A FAMOUS SCULPTOR.

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 70, 24 March 1926, Page 9

A FAMOUS SCULPTOR.

SIR BERTRAM MACKENNAL

IN AUCKLAND TO-DAY,

TO CONSULT RACING CLUB.

"Be kind to mc and don't say that I said anything dreadful about art," was the request made humorously by Sir Bertram Mackennal, the famous Aus-tralian-born sculptor, when he was interviewed on his arrival in Auckland to-day by the Ulimaroa, from Sydney. Sir Bertram said that he did not talk art to the papers—he was much too old a hand for that. Sir Edwin Mitchelson's Statue. Sir Bertram has come to Auckland at the request of the Auckland racing club to consult with that body regarding the statue of Sir Edwin Mitchelson, the president, which it is proposed to erect in the gardens of the Ellerslie racecourse. The sculptor, whose works have made him world-famous, is a charming gentleman of whom Australia might well be proud. He hag been in the Commonwealth for a short time and expects to remain there, on business, until about next Christmas, when he will return to

A Busy Man. Asked if he had seen anything of Australian sculpture, he replied that he had not, as yet, had the time to do soHe had been besieged by people in Australia, and had been forced to seek the precincts of the park in order to write his letters. The visitor referred sympathetically to Mr. C. Webb Gilbert, the well-known Australian sculptor, who #as making rapid progress is his art, but who died a short time ago, just when he had gained a high place in his profession. His WorKS. Sir Bertram's most recent work is the Shakespeare memorial erected in Sydney. His works may be found in all parts of the Empire. Among the most notable are statues of Queen Victoria for India, Australia and Blackburn; memorials to King Edward at London, Calcutta, Melbourne and Adelaide; the memorial tomb of King Edward VII. at St- George's Chapel, Windsor, and the National memorial to Gainsborough. Sir Bertram was also responsible for the coinage for our present King.