Quick Facts
Biography
Louis Frederick Roslyn, born Louis Frederick Roselieb, also known as Louis Fritz Roselieb (13 July 1878 – 1940), was a British sculptor noted for his World War I war memorials and other sculptures. Before beginning his career, he studied at Westminster City & Guilds College and the Royal Academy. He enlisted in the Royal Flying Corps in 1915, but for medical or other reasons was put on the reserve until 1917 when he was called to the School of Military Aeronautics and subsequently made Lieutenant. It seems to be during his military service that he finally changed his name to Roslyn.
Personal life
Louis Frederick Roselieb, later Roslyn, was born on 13 July 1878 in Lambeth, London the son of George Louis Roselieb, a German sculptor who came to England from Germany to work.
Louis Roselieb attended Westminster City & Guilds College before joining the Royal Academy, where in 1905 he was awarded a two year Landseer Scholarship for sculpture. Once he started to practice, his studio was located at "The Studio" in Clapham, London.
From 1906 to 1916 Roslyn worked at The Standard Plating Works in Rosebury Avenue. He was a "Sculptor and Electra Metallurgist". He enlisted in the Royal Flying Corps in 1915 under the name of Louis Fritz Roselieb. 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).
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.
Roslyn executed sculptural work for many war memorials in England and Wales. He also executed a war memorial in Trinidad, West Indies. The Duchess of York and Duchess of Connaught were among those of whom he was commissioned to do portrait busts. He was a Member and then Fellow of the Royal Society of British Sculptors. His membership commenced 1914 and his Fellowship commenced in 1923.
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". 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". In his records, and with no explanation, it was stated that Lord Derby did not want Roslyn called up before 1 June 1917.
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.
Works prior to 1914
| Work | Location | Notes and References |
|---|---|---|
| Memorial Fountain | Aspatria. Cumbria | Roselieb/Roslyn carried out sculptural work on a memorial fountain at Aspatria in 1908.This fountain was erected in honour of Sir Wilfred Lawson and was inlaid with four bronze tablets. One is a composition entitled "Peace" and another composition is entitled "Temperance". Another of the plaques features a bust of Sir Wilfred himself and the fourth gives a brief summary of Sir Wilfred's life. At the top of the memorial is a figure of St George and the Dragon. A horse drinking-trough stands at the front of the memorial. See photographs below. |
| Bust of Sir Wilfred Lawson, Bart | Whereabouts unknown | This bust was exhibited at Royal Hibernian Academy's Annual Exhibition of 1908. |
| Case of Medals - Bronze | Whereabouts unknown | A work entitled "Case of Medals-Bronze" was exhibited at Royal Hibernian Academy's Annual Exhibition of 1908. |
| Dawn | Whereabouts unknown | In 1906 a bronze relief under the name of "Dawn" 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. |
| Head of a Young Girl | Whereabouts unknown | This 1908 piece was exhibited at the Royal Hibernian Academy Annual Exhibition. |
| Imperial Buildings | Kingsway London | The sculptures above the two entrances to Imperial Buildings were signed under the name Roslyn and dated 1914/1915. Some photographs are shown below. |
| Memorial Fountain to Robert Fenwick and Harry Pollard Ashby | Wandle Park. Surrey | Roselieb/Roslyn worked on the classical water carrier added to the memorial fountain dedicated in memory of Robert Fenwick and Harry Pollard Ashby in Wandle Park which commemorated their pioneering and benevolent work. It is fashioned in Italian marble, with granite steps and a Portland Stone base. On the top once stood Roselieb's classical figure of the water-carrier but this no longer exists. The unveiling ceremony was performed on 14 June 1911 by Mrs. Charles Maffett, the daughter of Mr. Fenwick and grand-daughter of Mr. Ashby, and the water turned on by Mr. Cuthbert Maffett - Mr. Fenwick's grandson. |
| Prometheus Unbound | Whereabouts unknown | This work was mentioned in a summary of all works shown at the Royal Academy from 1906-1910 but its present whereabouts is unknown. |
| Statue of Edward VII | TootingSurrey | This was Roselieb or Roslyn's first major commission and stands outside Tooting Broadway Underground Station in South London. The statue was unveiled in 1911 In the gallery below are photographs of the two reliefs entitled "Charity" and the other "Peace" which are on either side of the plinth upon which the statue stands. |
| The Struggle | Whereabouts unknown | This work was exhibited at the 1912 Royal Academy Exhibition. |
Images for Roslyn's Edward VII Statue, Imperial Building sculpture and Aspatria Fountain
Edward VII statue relief
Another Edward VII statue relief
Roslyn's work over Imperial Building's entrance.
Memorial at Aspatria. Photograph courtesy "jmc4".
"Peace" on Aspatria Memorial. Photograph courtesy "jmc4". Note similarity to the Tooting work.
Plaque concerning Sir Wilfred Lawson. Photograph courtesy "jmc4"
War memorials
| Work | Image | Location | Notes and References |
|---|---|---|---|
| Edmonton War Memorial | Edmonton, North London | Roslyn carried out the sculptural work on this War Memorial. It was unveiled by Air Vice Marshall Sir Philip Game on 26 October 1924. | |
| Greengates War Memorial | Greengates, West Yorkshire | At Greengates and in the Garden of Remembrance on the Harrogate Road, we have a winged bronze “Victory" figure unveiled on 5 November 1921 by Lt.Col Alderman Anthony Gadie. The memorial is dedicated to the men of both Greengates and Apperley Bridge who fell in the First World war. "FREEDOM" "HONOUR" "JUSTICE" AND "PEACE" are carved at the top of the column. Photograph courtesy "Speccy beardy". At the time of the unveiling, the figure was described as representing “peace gained through sacrifice”. Roslyn worked on the overall design with a local retired architect, E. Wright.This is one of three similar compositions in the area, the others being in the park at Calverley, a few miles away over the municipal boundary in Leeds, and at Wetherby, where the memorial sits on the bridge. Each of the figures has details which make reference to classical depictions of Athene in her role as the "bringer of victory". In 2003, the Greengates memorial was threatened by a road-widening scheme and a local resident approached Sir Donald Thompson for advice. The Trust’s Conservation Officer, in collaboration with a Regional Volunteer, made a successful application for the memorial to be listed and as a result all three of Roslyn’s "Yorkshire ladies" are now listed Grade II. | |
| Ipswich Oddfellows Memorial Plaque | Ipswich, Suffolk | Roslyn also worked on a bronze memorial plaque to the 254 men of the Oddfellows district of Ipswich who died in the First World War but this has disappeared. | |
| Kenfig Hill and Pyle War Memorial | Kenfig, Mid Glamorgan Wales | Roslyn carried out the sculptural work on this War Memorial. It was unveiled in November 1925 by Major-General Sir Thomas O Marden. Roslyn features a bronze figure of "Victory" in his composition. One raised hand holds a wreath and the other a baton. | |
| Little Common War Memorial | Little Common, Sussex | At Little Common in East Sussex, Roslyn executed a simple granite memorial unveiled on 21 November 1920 by Major General Sir John Longley. | |
| St Giles Cathedral | Edinburgh, Lothian, Scotland | Roslyn completed a bronze plaque for this Scottish Cathedral with an inscription in relief. Two female figures are depicted in low relief. Both are holding large banners in one hand.The figure on the left kneels with head bowed and holds a wreath in her other hand. The other figure holds a dagger. | |
| St Peter and St Paul Church | Tonbridge, Kent | Roslyn executed a memorial plaque for this Tonbridge church. The plaque remembers those men of Tonbridge who fell in the Second Boer War. | |
| Swanley War Memorial | Swanley, Kent | At Swanley in Kent by St Mary the Virgin Church,we again find Roslyn using a bronze “Victory” figure.The Swanley War memorial was unveiled in 1922 and amongst the names recorded is that of Staff-Paymaster Joseph Gedge, a Swanley man, who was killed in action on 6 August 1914 when his ship HMS "Amphion" sank in the Thames Estuary after hitting a German mine. Gedge was the first British officer killed in action in World War 1.Indeed a "Gedge Medal" named in honour of Joseph Gedge was subsequently issued. |
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Other works
| Work | Image | Location | Notes and References |
|---|
Further images Roslyn's work Kingsway, New Bond Street and Norway House
Imperial Buildings in Kingsway
Imperial Buildings in Kingsway
The work "Commerce" in New Bond Street
In "Transport" a woman holds a steam locomotive whilst ocean liners are shown above. Norway House work.
In "Communications" Mercury is shown with globe and caduceus with aGreek galley shown above.Norway House work.
"Art"
