Vernon Hill

Vernon Hill (1887–1972), born in Halifax, West Riding of Yorkshire, England, was a sculptor, lithographer, illustrator and draughtsman. According to Christie's, however, he died in 1953. |group=nb

Early life Vernon Hill was born in 1887 in Halifax, West Riding of Yorkshire. He began formal training in print-making at an early age; at the age 13 he was apprenticed to a lithographer. In about 1908, at the age of 21, Hill moved to London and took up poster illustration, working under John Hassall, a poster designer and illustrator.

Chope commissioned Hill to create a series of designs for roof bosses at St Nectan's Church, Hartland in about 1912. The bosses are in three sets: two sets are of plants and trees, of which the first letter of each spell out the names of Chope's brothers (Dennis and Abbot). The third set are of biblical figures. Hill is thought to have sculpted these bosses, although some indicate they were created by Reads of Exeter.

Notable commissions His most notable work as a sculptor is to be seen on various buildings by Sir Edward Maufe, who regularly commissioned Hill.

Guildford Cathedral Some of Hill's finest work can be seen at Guildford Cathedral in Guildford, Surrey, which was designed in 1932-33. Apart from the reliefs on the south door entrance, he carved the angels on the sedilia inside the cathedral, as well as the tongues of flame on the pulpit and lectern. He also carved the arms of Bishop Greig over the inside of the sacristy door and the figure of Saint Ursula over the inside of St Ursula's Porch.

At the east door of the south porch, on either side of the central buttress pier in the south transept, are two magnificent bronze doors, set under two arches, which feature Hill's reliefs. These are depictions of various occupations, of both men and women. The men's occupations are on the right-hand door and include sowing, woodcutting, fishing, hunting, shepherding and ploughing; on the left-hand door are depicted women's traditional occupations including milking, spinning, and teaching. Overlooking the Thames Valley, the memorial commemorates the more than 20,000 Royal Air Force servicemen and -women who died during World War II and have no known graves. The panels of inscriptions bear their names.

Among Hill's works are the architectural sculptures of Courage, Victory and Justice, which adorn the entry to the shrine on the north side of the triple arched portico by the cloisters.

St Columba's Church, London Maufe was the architect for the re-building of St Columba's Church, Pont Street, London, which had been destroyed in 1941 during World War II. Hill provided interior and exterior stone sculptures for the construction between 1950 and 1955. Maufe described the finished work as "of an especial beauty."

St John's College, Cambridge Also commissioned by Maufe, Hill completed an architectural sculpture of the arms of St John's College, Cambridge, for the north side of North Court.

Church of St Thomas the Apostle, Hanwell Hill sculpted several works from Weldon stone for Maufe's church of St Thomas the Apostle, Hanwell. These included a sculpture of a dove over the north door and one of two birds eating a unch of grapes, depicting the Eucharist, over the west door. He also carved a Virgin and Child and a font. The font includes symbols for Christ, such as the ΙΧΘΥΣ cypher and an image of a fish. He also made a sculpture of Saint Christopher.

Works WorkYearType of workNotes and References A girl decked with leaves 1905–1930 Etching The etching shows the head of a woman with leaves in her hair. It is printed with plate-tone in brown ink on speckled buff paper. Air Maidens 1927 (exhibited) Sculpture The wooden figure group was exhibited at Sculpture, Drawings and Etchings by Vernon Hill (Leicester Galleries) in 1927. Back of Hand-mirror 1927 (exhibited) Sculpture The bronze cast sculpture was exhibited at Leicester Galleries for the "Sculpture, Drawings and Etchings by Vernon Hill" exhibit. Ballads Weird and Wonderful 1912 Illustrations Hill illustrated a book of ancient legendary ballads by Richard Pearse Chope. For example, see "Young Benjie" (Roud 3911; Child 86) . Blind 1902–1915 Print Walking in the dark is a ragged old man (etching and aquatint). Crescent Moon 1927 (exhibited) Sculpture The lead sculpture was exhibited at Leicester Galleries for the "Sculpture, Drawings and Etchings by Vernon Hill" exhibit. Dawn with Trumpet 1905–1924 Print The etching, of an "allegorical figure in flowing rows blowing trumpet in doorway", is printed with plate-tone in brown ink. Day joy 1927 (exhibited) Sculpture The bronze cast sculpture was exhibited at Leicester Galleries for the "Sculpture, Drawings and Etchings by Vernon Hill" exhibit. Door Knocker 1927 (exhibited) Architectural sculpture The bronze cast door knocker was exhibited at Leicester Galleries for the "Sculpture, Drawings and Etchings by Vernon Hill" exhibit. Elfin Crown 1927 (exhibited) Sculpture The bronze cast sculpture was exhibited at Leicester Galleries for the "Sculpture, Drawings and Etchings by Vernon Hill" exhibit. Evening 1905–1915 Print The work depicts two sitting figures: a woman sitting near a fire and a satyr holding a crook. Fire 1905–1915 Print The work, an etching, depicts a naked man walking in flames while shielding his face. The Guardian 1905–1915 Print A seated semi-nude angel is holding a branch of leaves and a trumpet. The work is an etching. Mermaid 1927 (exhibited) Sculpture The carved animal bone sculpture was exhibited at Leicester Galleries for the "Sculpture, Drawings and Etchings by Vernon Hill" exhibit. Moon Maidens 1927 (exhibited) Sculpture The wood carved sculpture was exhibited at Leicester Galleries for the "Sculpture, Drawings and Etchings by Vernon Hill" exhibit. Moon Maidens 1930 (exhibited) Sculpture The bronze sculpture was exhibited at Leeds City Art Gallery, Yorkshire Artists' Exhibition in 1928. Morning Gladness 1927 (exhibited) Sculpture The bronze cast sculpture was exhibited at Leicester Galleries for the "Sculpture, Drawings and Etchings by Vernon Hill" exhibit. Night 1927 (exhibited) Sculpture The carved stone sculpture was exhibited at Leicester Galleries for the "Sculpture, Drawings and Etchings by Vernon Hill" exhibit. Nymph 1927 (exhibited) Sculpture The bronze cast sculpture was exhibited at Leicester Galleries for the "Sculpture, Drawings and Etchings by Vernon Hill" exhibit. Rapture 1927 (exhibited) Sculpture The bronze cast sculpture was exhibited at Leicester Galleries for the "Sculpture, Drawings and Etchings by Vernon Hill" exhibit. Roaring flame 1927 (exhibited) Sculpture The bronze cast sculpture was exhibited at Leicester Galleries for the "Sculpture, Drawings and Etchings by Vernon Hill" exhibit. Sea Frolic 1927 (exhibited) Print The work is a photomechanical print invitation of three entwined mermaids for the Leicester Galleries Exhibition of Sculpture, Drawings and Etchings by Vernon Hill in 1927. Sorrow 1927 (exhibited) Sculpture The carved marble sculpture was exhibited at Leicester Galleries for the "Sculpture, Drawings and Etchings by Vernon Hill" exhibit. St Joan of Arc's Church sculpture Unknown Sculpture Hill made a sculpture for the church; further details are unknown. The Arcadian Calendar 1909 Illustration The calendar is believed to contain Hill's first commissioned illustrations. The work was published by John Lane The Bodley Head. The Awakening 1930 (exhibited) Sculpture The bronze sculpture was exhibited at Leeds City Art Gallery, Yorkshire Artists' Exhibition in 1930. The Chase 1928 (exhibited) Sculpture The bronze sculpture was exhibited at Leeds City Art Gallery, Yorkshire Artists' Exhibition in 1928. The Flower of Silence 1927 (exhibited) Sculpture The carved wood sculpture was exhibited at Leicester Galleries for the "Sculpture, Drawings and Etchings by Vernon Hill" exhibit. The Mask 1927 (exhibited) Sculpture The bronze cast sculpture was exhibited at Leicester Galleries for the "Sculpture, Drawings and Etchings by Vernon Hill" exhibit. The Messenger 1905–1915 Print The work depicts a man naked except for winged sandals flying above the mountains while carrying a banner. The Moon Chariot 1927 (exhibited) Sculpture The lead sculpture was exhibited at Leicester Galleries for the "Sculpture, Drawings and Etchings by Vernon Hill" exhibit. The New Inferno 1910 Illustration Hill created Art Nouveau illustrations for S. Phillips' The New Inferno in 1911. The Sun God 1927 (exhibited) Sculpture The carved stone sculpture was exhibited at Leicester Galleries for the "Sculpture, Drawings and Etchings by Vernon Hill" exhibit. The Wave 1927 (exhibited) Sculpture The carved marble sculpture was exhibited at Leicester Galleries for the "Sculpture, Drawings and Etchings by Vernon Hill" exhibit. The Wheel 1927 (exhibited) Sculpture The bronze cast sculpture was exhibited at Leicester Galleries for the "Sculpture, Drawings and Etchings by Vernon Hill" exhibit. The woman-wind asleep 1927 (exhibited) Sculpture The lead sculpture was exhibited at Leicester Galleries for the "Sculpture, Drawings and Etchings by Vernon Hill" exhibit. Tramping with a Poet through the Rockies Before 1922 Illustrations Hill illustrated the travel journal of authors Vachel Lindsay and Stephen Graham through the United States and Canadian Rockies, with stops at an Indian reservation and a Mormon temple. Wind Helmet 1927 (exhibited) Sculpture The bronze cast sculpture was exhibited at Leicester Galleries for the "Sculpture, Drawings and Etchings by Vernon Hill" exhibit.

Exhibitions

Hill exhibited: 1927 - Multiple works at Leicester Galleries: Sculpture, Drawings and Etchings by Vernon Hill 1928 - Multiple works at Leeds City Art Gallery, Yorkshire Artists' Exhibition 1930 - The Awakening at Leeds City Art Gallery, Yorkshire Artists' Exhibition