Introduction
Thomas Stirling Lee (1857-1916) was a London sculptor, born in Lambeth as the son of a surveyor, and apprenticed to John Birnie Philip, one of the sculptors involved with the Albert Memorial. He then attended the Royal Academy Schools (1876–80), spent some time at the École des Beaux-Arts, Paris (1880–1), and went on from there to complete his studies in Rome (1881–3). His most important commission was to design 28 panels around the base of St George's Hall, Liverpool, but less than half were completed, and not all by Lee himself. Problems started with Lee's first panel, one of a projected series of six showing "The Attributes and Results of Justice": it caused a furore because it featured a nude "child Justice"; "the girl Justice" in the next panel was also nude (see Cavanagh 260-61). Lee was eventually allowed to continue that series, which is to the left of the central portico of the building, and also designed two in a different series to the right of the portico, for which he had at least a supervisory role. According to his obituary, he was congenial and well-liked: "One of the best and kindest of men; always ready to help and advise; always thinking of others" (qtd. in "Thomas Stirling Lee"). — Jacqueline Banerjee
Works
- Doors with scenes of male friendship, Adelphi Bank, Liverpool
- Head of a Girl
- Sir Mervyn Macartney
- John Brett
- Untitled [possibly Mrs Rodney Fennessy]
The Progress of Justice series of bas reliefs on Saint George's Hall, Liverpool
- Justice as a child of the poor, led by Understanding into the way of Wisdom. Joy following . . .
- Justice in her purity refuses to be diverted from the straight path by Riches and Fame
- Justice, having attained maturity, upholds the world, supported by Knowledge and Right
- Justice, able to stand alone, administers by the Sword
- Justice, relieved of her sword by Virtue, and of her scales by Concord
- Justice receives the kiss of Righteousness
The National Progress series on Saint George's Hall
- Liverpool by her shipwrights builds vessels of commerce
- Liverpool, a fishing village, gives her sons the boat and the net
Bibliography
Cavanagh, Terry. The Public Sculpture of Liverpool. Liverpool: Liverpool University Press, 1996.
Read, Benedict. Victorian Sculpture. New Haven and London: Yale University Press, 1982.
"Thomas Stirling Lee." Mapping the Practice and Profession of Sculpture. Web. 1 November 2015.
Last modified 1 November 2015