Louis Frederick Roslyn

British sculptor

Louis Frederick Roslyn (born Roselieb; 13 July 1878 – 1940), also known as Louis Fritz Roselieb, was a British sculptor noted for his World War I war memorials, portrait sculptures and bronze statuettes. Before beginning his career, he studied at Westminster City & Guilds College and the Royal Academy Schools. He enlisted in the Royal Flying Corps in 1915, but for medical or other reasons was put on the reserve until 1917 when he served at the School of Military Aeronautics and subsequently made Lieutenant. During his military service that he changed his name to Roslyn.

Biography

Louis Frederick Roselieb, later Roslyn, was born on 13 July 1878 in Lambeth, London.^[1] His father was George Louis Roselieb, a German sculptor who came to England from Germany to work.^{[nb 1]}

Louis Roselieb attended Westminster City & Guilds College before entering the Royal Academy Schools, where in 1905 he was won a two year Landseer Scholarship for sculpture.^[2] Once he started to practice, his studio was located at "The Studio" in Clapham, London.^[1]

From 1906 to 1916 Roslyn worked at The Standard Plating Works in Rosebury Avenue. He was a "Sculptor and Electra Metallurgist".^[3] He enlisted in the Royal Flying Corps in 1915 under the name of Louis Fritz Roselieb.^[3] At the time of his enlistment he was 38 years and 5 months old and his height was 5 feet 6.1/2 inches. His wife was Ethel Roselieb and they had three children, Claude Frederick (12 years), Edward George (9 years) and John Bleckly (3 1/2 years).^[3]

At some point during his military service Roselieb changed his surname to Roslyn. It is not entirely clear when this decision was made; the statue of Edward VII had been done under the name Roselieb in 1911, whereas his work on the Imperial Buildings in 1914 was signed Roslyn.^[4]

Roslyn executed sculptural work for many war memorials in England and Wales. He also executed war memorials for Trinidad in the West Indies and for Cape Town in South Africa.^[5] The Duchess of York and Duchess of Connaught were among those of whom he was commissioned to do portrait busts.^[6] He was a Member and then Fellow of the Royal Society of British Sculptors. His membership commenced 1914 and his Fellowship commenced in 1923.^[1]

Military service

The young Roselieb, who often added "Vai" to his full name, enlisted in the Royal Flying Corps on 12 December 1915 and he described himself when enlisting as "a sculptor and living in Clapham" and to be working as "a sculptor and electra metallurgist".^[3] Rosyln was passed as fit to work on "electro deposition of various metals for use in connection with Aero Engines" and was deemed medically "fit for service anywhere but not combatant service".^[3] In his records, and with no explanation, it was stated that Lord Derby did not want Roslyn called up before 1 June 1917.^[3]

Having enlisted, Roselieb was put on the reserve, and in June 1917 was called to the School of Military Aeronautics, Royal Flying Corps, Reading, as an Equipment Officer, 3rd Class on probation. As a result of this appointment Roselieb was gazetted as a Temporary 2nd Lieutenant under the name Louis Frederick Roslyn. Subsequently he was promoted to Lieutenant.^[3][7]

Selected public works

1900-1915

1916-1920

1921-1925

1926 and later

Other works

• Memorial Fountain to Robert Fenwick and Harry Pollard Ashby, Wandle Park. Surrey, unveiled 1911. Roslyn worked on the classical water carrier, no longer in place, added to the fountain. It is fashioned in Italian marble, with granite steps and a Portland Stone base.
• Bust of Sir Wilfred Lawson, Bart, current whereabouts unknown, exhibited at Royal Hibernian Academy's Annual Exhibition of 1908.^[68]
• A work entitled Case of Medals-Bronze was exhibited at Royal Hibernian Academy's Annual Exhibition of 1908.^[69]
• In 1906 a bronze relief, Dawn, current whereabouts unknown, was exhibited at the Corporation of Manchester Art Gallery on the occasion of their Twenty-Fourth Autumn Exhibition. The piece was priced at £2 2s.^[70]
• Head of a Young Girl, 1908, whereabouts unknown, exhibited at the Royal Hibernian Academy Annual Exhibition.^[71]
• Prometheus Unbound, listed as being shown at the Royal Academy from 1906-1910 but its present whereabouts is unknown.^[72]
• The Struggle, Whereabouts unknown, exhibited at the 1912 Royal Academy Exhibition.^[73]
• A 1921 bronze memorial plaque to the 254 men of the Oddfellows society of Ipswich who died in the First World War^[74]
• The Imperial War Museum in London holds a number of busts of British military officers by Roslyn in its collection.^[75]

Notes

1. At the National Archives in Kew, England and under reference HO 144/407/B23762 are papers which cover George Louis Roselieb's Naturalisation. At the time of his naturalisation, Roselieb had lived in England for 23 years, having been born in Hanover on 20 March 1897 and had practised as an architectural sculptor and carver. At the time of naturalisation he had two sons, Louis Fitz (sic) Vai Roselieb (18 years of age) and Gustav Karl Roselieb (16 years of age). He worked at the Clayton Works in Kennington. At the time of naturalisation Roselieb’s address was in Clapham.

References

1. Louis Frederick Roslyn. Mapping the Practice and Profession of Sculpture. Retrieved 26 August 2012.
2. James Mackay (1977). The Dictionary of Western Sculptors in Bronze. Antique Collectors' Club. ISBN 0902028553.
3. Louis Frederick Rosleib's Royal Air Force Service Record AIR 76, Reel 436, National Archives, Kew.
4. File WO 339/108338. The National Archives, Kew.
5. Derek Boorman (1988). At the Going Down of the Sun: British First World War Memorials. William Sessions Limited. ISBN 1 85072 041 X.
6. Louis Roslyn. Archived 10 June 2011 at the Wayback Machine PMSA Artists' Biographies. Retrieved 27 August 2012.
7. Supplement to London Gazette London Gazette. Retrieved 26 August 2012.
8. "War Memorials Register: Tonbridge And District". Imperial War Museum. Retrieved 21 December 2021.
9. Historic England. "6 and 7 St George Street (1265020)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 21 December 2022.
10. Historic England. "Sir Wilfrid Lawson Memorial and drinking trough (1234487)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 20 December 2021.
11. Historic England. "Statue of Edward VII (1065494)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 20 December 2021.
12. "Norway House". The Victorian Web. Retrieved 27 August 2012.
13. "Kingsway". The Victorian Web. Retrieved 27 August 2012.
14. "Kingsway 2". The Victorian Web. Retrieved 27 August 2012.
15. "New Bond Street". The Victorian Web. Retrieved 27 August 2012.
16. "War Memorials Register: Brigadier General FW Lumsden VC CB DSO and 3 Bars". Imperial War Museum. Retrieved 22 December 2021.
17. "Royal Marines Museum – Brigadier General FW Lumsden VC, CB, DSO". Memorials & Monuments in Portsmouth. Retrieved 22 December 2021.
18. "War Memorials Register: Little Common Cross". Imperial War Museum. Retrieved 21 December 2021.
19. "War Memorials Register: Buxton". Imperial War Museum. Retrieved 20 December 2021.
20. Historic England. "War Memorial on The Slopes (1257856)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 20 December 2021.
21. "War Memorials Register: Bexhill". Imperial War Museum. Retrieved 20 December 2021.
22. "War Memorials Register: Blackley". Imperial War Museum. Retrieved 20 December 2021.
23. Historic England. "Blackley War Memorial (1208059)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 20 December 2021.
24. "War Memorials Register: Darwen". Imperial War Museum. Retrieved 21 December 2021.
25. Historic England. "Darwen War Memorial (1072435)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 21 December 2021.
26. "War Memorials Register: Greengates, Apperley Bridge and District". Imperial War Museum. Retrieved 21 December 2021.
27. Historic England. "Greengates War Memorial in Garden of Remembrance (1390927)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 21 December 2021.
28. "War Memorials Register: Scottish Nurses - WW1". Imperial War Museum. Retrieved 21 December 2021.
29. "War Memorials Register: Wetherby". Imperial War Museum. Retrieved 21 December 2021.
30. Historic England. "Wetherby Bridge (over River Wharfe) with attached War Memorial (1313468)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 21 December 2021.
31. "War Memorials Register: Calverley". Imperial War Museum. Retrieved 20 December 2021.
32. Historic England. "War Memorial near to entrance Victoria Park (1288958)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 20 December 2021.
33. "War Memorials Register: Denholme". Imperial War Museum. Retrieved 21 December 2021.
34. Historic England. "First and Second World War Memorial, approximately 100 metres south-east of bandstand (1314152)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 21 December 2021.
35. "War Memorials Register: Oswaldtwistle". Imperial War Museum. Retrieved 21 December 2021.
36. Historic England. "Oswaldtwistle War Memorial (1206103)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 21 December 2021.
37. "War Memorials Register: Swanley – WW1 and WW2". Imperial War Museum. Retrieved 21 December 2021.
38. Historic England. "Swanley War Memorial (1392300)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 21 December 2021.
39. "War Memorials Register: Clitheroe Serviceman". Imperial War Museum. Retrieved 20 December 2021.
40. Historic England. "Clitheroe Castle (1001361)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 20 December 2021.
41. "War Memorials Register: Holyhead District". Imperial War Museum. Retrieved 20 December 2021.
42. Cadw. "Cenotaph (14749)". National Historic Assets of Wales. Retrieved 20 December 2021.
43. "War Memorials Register: Basingstoke – WW1 and WW2". Imperial War Museum. Retrieved 20 December 2021.
44. Historic England. "Basingstoke War Memorial (1435084)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 20 December 2021.
45. "Slaidburn, Dunsop, Newton and Dalehead". UK War Memorials Archive. Imperial War Museums. Retrieved 21 December 2021.
46. Historic England. "War Memorial (1072214)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 21 December 2021.
47. "War Memorials Register: Tottenham". Imperial War Museum. Retrieved 21 December 2021.
48. Historic England. "War Memorial, Tottenham Green (1061398)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 21 December 2021.
49. "War Memorials Register: New Tredegar Servicemen Statue". Imperial War Museum. Retrieved 22 December 2021.
50. Cadw. "War memorial (25496)". National Historic Assets of Wales. Retrieved 22 December 2021.
51. "Portstewart". UK War Memorials Archive. Imperial War Museums. Retrieved 21 December 2021.
52. "War Memorials Register: Men of Edmonton". Imperial War Museum. Retrieved 21 December 2021.
53. Historic England. "Edmonton War Memorial (1440052)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 21 December 2021.
54. "War Memorials Register: Haslingden". Imperial War Museum. Retrieved 21 December 2021.
55. Historic England. "War Memorial in Memorial Gardens (1163597)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 21 December 2021.
56. Cadw. "War memorial (23256)". National Historic Assets of Wales. Retrieved 23 June 2020.
57. "War Memorials Register: Port Talbot". Imperial War Museum. Retrieved 23 June 2020.
58. Cadw. "Kenfig Hill War Memorial (19176)". National Historic Assets of Wales. Retrieved 20 December 2021.
59. "War Memorials Register: Kenfig Hill and Pyle". Imperial War Museum. Retrieved 20 December 2021.
60. Cadw. "Cenotaph (18497)". National Historic Assets of Wales. Retrieved 20 December 2021.
61. "War Memorials Register: Maesteg Servicemen Statue". Imperial War Museum. Retrieved 20 December 2021.
62. Historic England. "War Memorial (1390591)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 21 December 2022.
63. "War Memorials Register: Harpur Hill". Imperial War Museum. Retrieved 21 December 2022.
64. "War Memorials Register: Rawtenstall Cenotaph - WW1 and WW2". Imperial War Museum. Retrieved 21 December 2021.
65. Historic England. "Rawtenstall Cenotaph (1072780)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 21 December 2021.
66. "Artillery House, Artillery Row". Architectural Review. Retrieved 27 August 2012.
67. Historic England. "Mackenzie Memorial in Thompson Park, Burnley (1244999)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 8 November 2020.
68. Sir Wilfred Lawson Bart. Mapping the Practice and Profession of Sculpture. Retrieved 26 August 2012.
69. Case of Medals-Bronze. Mapping the Practice and Profession of Sculpture. Retrieved 26 August 2012.
70. Dawn. The bronze relief called "Dawn". Mapping the Practice and Profession of Sculpture. Retrieved 26 August 2012.
71. Head of Young Girl. Mapping the Practice and Profession of Sculpture. Retrieved 26 August 2012.
72. Prometheus Unbound. Archived 13 October 2011 at the Wayback Machine Royal Academy. Retrieved 26 August 2012.
73. "Sculptures from 'Academy Architecture', 1909–1912; a collection of all the sculptures published in vols. 35–42 of "Academy Architecture". Royal Academy 1912. Retrieved 26 August 2012
74. "War Memorials Register: Ipswich District of Oddfellows – WWI". Imperial War Museum. Retrieved 21 December 2021.
75. "Search Our Collection: Roslyn, Louis Frederick". Imperial War Museum. Retrieved 22 December 2021.

External links

• 24 artworks by or after Louis Frederick Roslyn at the Art UK site