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Ellen Mary Rope

Collection of sixty photographs, postcards, notes and watercolours of Mary Ellen Rope (1855-1934), who was best known for making sculpture and reliefs for churches, graves and memorials.

A circular relief sculpture of a woman surrounded by three small children.

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Relief sculpture of a standing, armoured angel, who holds a sword in one hand and a battle flag in the other, which reads 'From Strength to Strength'.

Black and white photo of a sculpture of a woman wearing a robe and shawl, who is kneeling in prayer.

Relief sculpture of a praying cherub, with the inscription 'In thy light shall we see light' next to them.

Watercolour painting of a small sail boat, done in soft blues and browns on cream paper.

Black and white photo of the frontispiece for a tomb. It reads: 'To the glory of God, in thankful and loving memory of Henry John Rope FRCS. Born 7th June 1847 died 13th September 1899. For seven years a warden of this church, who as a faithful servant of Christ and his poor spent his life in the relief of suffering. This tablet is placed by many friends and fellow townsmen. R.I.P. I am among you as he that serveth.

Relief sculpture of an angel holding a long, straight trumpet, looking towards a rising sun in the distance. The words 'Until the day break and the shadows flee away' are inscribed next to them, and beneath are the words 'Their Sound is gone out into all Lands'.

Relief sculpture of an angel, who is kneeling down in a motherly fashion by a small child holding a sheaf of wheat.

Relief sculpture of Jesus, who is reaching down to hold the hand of a wounded or dead soldier. A rifle has been dropped by the soldier's side, and there is a cannon off to the right. Above the scene words are inscribed, which read: 'Even there also the right hand shall lead me'.

Relief sculpture of eight children, four of whom are dancing, while the others play instruments.

About the artist

Ellen Mary Rope (1855-1934) was born in Blaxhall, Suffolk, the daughter of a farmer. She attended Ipswich Art School and following this, in 1876, began to exhibit at the Ipswich Fine Art Club.

In 1877 she went to study at Slade School of Art – at the time, the only art school to permit women. At the start of her studies she focused on painting and drawing, but in 1880 she progressed into working on sculpture.

Shortly after finishing at Slade, Rope exhibited at the Paris Salon & the Société des Artistes Français. Becoming part of the Arts and Crafts movement, she designed for the Della Robia Pottery in Birkenhead from 1886-1906, which brought her work more into the public view.

Her burgeoning reputation gained her commissions for architectural design. The most well-known of these was the design for four spandrels for the Women’s Building at the Chicago 1893 World Columbian Exposition. This, in turn, led to commissions in perhaps her most recognisable field: sculpture and reliefs for churches, graves and memorials.

As well as her public sculpture, which remains in situ across the country, her work is also part of collections such as Christchurch Mansion, Liverpool Walker Gallery and the Leeds Art Gallery Sculpture Collection.

Rope showed determinism and adaptability in carving out a place for herself in the sculpture world, and made a profitable career for herself at this time. She created work that was seen in the public realm, that was the subject of exhibitions, and that decorated people’s personal worlds.

What’s in the collection?

In our archive collection we have sixty photographs of Rope’s historical sculpture. There are also postcards, notes and watercolours, with some of this material dating back 140 years.

A big part of Rope’s work being acknowledged and credited was due to a historical assessment of her work by Williamson Art Gallery in 1997. Her archive collection came to us at this time.