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Alfred Frank Hardiman

Our archive of Alfred Frank Hardiman (1891-1949) contains photos, papers and correspondence related to many of his most well known works, including his monumental and architectural sculpture.

Sepia photo of a man putting the finishing touches to a model for a public sculpture of a military man riding a horse.

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Sepia photo of a man posing at work by a finished plaster portrait bust of a man with a prominent moustache.

Black and white photo of a man stood high up on a wooden beam so that he can work on the upper part of a monumental sculpture. The sculpture is still early in development, but it is clear that it depicts a horse and rider.

Sepia photo of a man stood high up on a wooden platform so that he can work on the upper part of a monumental sculpture. The sculpture is covered by sheets, but it is clear that it depicts a horse and rider.

Vintage photo of a man spraying water upwards at a monumental sculpture of a horse, which is covered in sheets and resting on top of a large wooden platform with wheels.

Sepia photo of four men carefully moving a large stone sculpture of a woman and child by means of a wooden platform with wheels.

Sculpture by Alfred Hardiman of a muscular nude man, who is stood holding a limp-bodied child by the underarms.

Sculpture by Alfred Hardiman of a muscular nude man, casually but powerfully sat astride a large set of calipers.

Sepia photo taken through an archway, showing a sculpture of Jesus on the cross with two saints beside him.

Sepia photo of a man kneeling down to put the finishing touches to a sculpture of a muscular male nude, standing at around nine or ten feet tall. The figure carries a sword in its right hand, and with the left it holds a round shield with decorative inlay above and behind its head.

Black and white photo of a muscular nude man, seen from behind. He carries a sword in this right hand, and holds a raised shield behind his head with his left.

Sepia photo of a man putting the finishing touches to a male portrait bust, slightly larger than life size. The face of the sculpture has no eyes, and through the eye-holes it is evident that the sculpture is hollow.

Sepia photo of a man putting the finishing touches to a large plaster sculpture of a sphinx in the Greek tradition, with the head of a man, body of a lion and wings of an eagle.

About the artist

Alfred Frank Hardiman (1891-1949) was born in London, son of a talented silversmith in Holborn. When he left school he trained as a draughtsman and attended the Central School for Arts and Crafts. It was in 1912 that he won a London County Council Scholarship to the Royal College of Art. He attended the college at the same time as Charles Wheeler and Gilbert Ledward (both of whom are also represented in our archive).

Soon after his studies, Hardiman joined the Royal Academy, an institute which he would have close association with for his whole life. In 1936 he was elected an associate, and in 1944 he became a full Academician. Like many sculptors and artists of this generation, his career was put on hold with the outbreak of the First World War. During this time Hardiman served as an engineer’s draughtsman in the Royal Flying Corps.

When he returned to studying, Hardiman received the coveted British Prix de Rome scholarship, spending two years at the British School at Rome. His style evolved at this time, drawing influence from naturalism and stylised classicism. Portrait sculptures lent themselves well to the skills that Hardiman had learnt, evident in work such as his bust of Sir Alexander Jeans in Liverpool.

Although practicing in portrait sculpture, monumental and architectural sculpture would come to dominate Hardiman’s career. One of his well-known large-scale sculptures is of Earl Haig, situated on Whitehall, London. From the outset and throughout the making process, Hardiman received many critiques on his work, from the stance of Haig to the horse he was riding. Through compromises, the sculpture was revealed in 1937, eight years after it was originally commissioned. To this day, Haig and his sculpture remain controversial.

His style of ancient forms imbued with a strong decorative sense really came through in his architectural sculpture, such as the commissions for London’s County Hall. Here, Hardiman was asked to create sculptures representing four themes: Recreation, Town Planning, Child Education and Care of the Sick.

Hardiman continued to produce wonderful monumental sculpture throughout his career. Other notable works include the heraldic lions situated on the entrance to Norwich Town Hall; Calvary in Old St Paul’s Cathedral, Edinburgh; and a nine foot bronze statue of St George, made for the home of Stephen Courtauld.

What’s in the collection?

We hold substantial material relating to the life and work of Alfred Frank Hardiman in the archive. You can find over 300 photographs of his work, personal papers, correspondence about sculpture commissions and exhibitions, and a collection of press cuttings and publications relating to his work.