Item NMC/0409B - Queen Victoria Diamond Jubilee medal

Sculptor, designer, medallistBorn in Worcester, Worcestershire, he was the only son of William Brock, a painter and decorator. Thomas Brock studied first at the Government School of Design, Worcester, and then served an apprenticeship in modelling at the Worcester Royal Porcelain Works. From 1866 he became a pupil of John Henry Foley. Brock also attended the Royal Academy Schools from 1867 where he won a gold medal for his sculpture 'Hercules Strangling Antaeus' in 1869. When Foley suddenly died in 1874, Brock completed most of his unfinished works including a large monument to Daniel O'Connell for Dublin. This led to many important commissions including designing the new likeness of Queen Victoria for the coinage in 1891. The latter part of Brock's career was dominated by creating the Queen Victoria Memorial (1901-24, The Mall, London). Brock was the recipient of numerous honours including a knighthood, an honorary doctorate from the University of Oxford (1909) and honorary memberships of the Royal Institute of British Architects, the Royal Society of Arts, and the Société des Artistes Français. He died at 4 Dorset Square, London.