Halse, Emmeline

Title

Miss

First name(s)

Emmeline

Surname

Halse

Position(s) held at King's College London

Lecturer in Clay Modelling to the King's College Ladies Department 1886-1887

Education & professional details

School, college and/or university attended

Studied with her father, and at Royal Academy Schools 1876 to early 1880s. Won silver medals 1877, 1878, 1880, Trained in Paris under Frederic Louis Desire Borgino. The exclusion of women students from life classes using male models meant that her long training was based largely on copying other sculpture.

Qualifications ^Ref: *1

No formal title, but studied to post-graduate level.

Position(s) held (non King's College London)

Listed as a contemporary modeller living in London

Professional activities

Exhibited regularly 1878-1903 at Manchester Art Gallery, Royal Manchester Institute, Royal Glasgow Institute, Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool. Best-known and only large-scale work: Reredos of the Crucifixion, Church of St John the Evangelist, Ladbroke Grove, 1890.

Publications

Ramblings of an Artist (a collection of letters from EH's friend Helen Trevor, published by EH 1900)

Personal details

Date of birth

25th May 1853

Place of birth

7 Adelaide Terrace, Bayswater, London

Date of death

6th February 1930

Place of death

Twin Gables', Chalfont St Giles, Buckinghamshire

Family details ^Ref: *2

Daughter of George Frederick Halse, sculptor born 1st May 1826 and Matilda Lydia Davis. Siblings: William born 1851 became Vicar of Holy Trinity, Bridlington, Katherine born 1853 taught for 43 years at one of Lord Shaftsbury's Ragged Schools, Edward born 1854 geologist and mining engineer; Family addresses: 5 St Anne's Villas, Kensington, and from 1865-1928: 15 Clarendon Road, Notting Hill, London.

Notes ^{Refs: *3 *4 *5}

1) The V& A National Art Library holds a letter to Emmeline Halse from the artist H Brittan Willis, dated 23rd December 1881, commiserating with her on the 'stunning blow of injustice dealt to you by partial and ignorant judges', but referring to Professor Newton's appreciation of her work.

2) A quote from an article on Emmeline's father, George Halse, confirms her King's College London (Ladies' Department) appointment: " ... Miss Halse, I understand, recently made arrangements to start a class for lady students in sculpture in connection with King's College, and another class in Mr Calderon's Art School in St John's Wood" .

3) Referring to EH's reredos (see 13) : a revealing comment by Pevsner (The Buildings of England: London 3 North West) " states in the entry for this church ‘reredos by Aston Webb 1890’. Here is a prime example of how women artists have been written out of history. The Editor tells me this will be corrected"

4) ** Emmeline Halse is referred throughout the King's College London (Ladies) Minutes as 'Miss A Halse', except for one reference to Miss E Halse (King's College London Calendar, 1886-1887, 380)