SMM+S

jimmcginlay · Posted: Sun Jun 28, 2009 11:21 pm Post subject: 'The Seafarer' - Montrose

Location: Wharf Street, Montrose.

Sculptor: William Lamb A.R.S.A. 1893 - 1951
Willie Lamb was certainly one of the greatest Scottish sculptors of the 20th century. His father was an ex- skipper and alcoholic. After a troubled childhood Lamb served with the Cameron Highlander's on the Western Front were he was wounded on three separate occassions. The last left his right hand badly damaged and he spent his recovery, during which he underwent numerous operations to remove shrapnel, learning to carve with his left hand. The war left a deep mark on Lamb and he suffered from recurring bouts of depression and breakdown for the rest of his life.

Around 1936 as he was recovering from one such breakdown he began work on his three 'Titans' which are also sometimes collectively titled 'The Future', featuring 'The Smith', 'Minesweeper' and 'Trawler Hand' which is now known as 'The Seafarer'.

Lamb remained true to the figurative and classical tradition. During a tour of France shortly after the war he visited the Louvre and was greatly impressed by the 'Winged Victory of Samothrace' and the way in which the dramatic flowing of her robes created a sense of heroic movement . In later years he became fascinated by the effect of the east coast wind on the body and clothing of his figures. In 'The Seafarer' he has used this to bring a similar heroic quality to the figure of an ordinary fisherman. In later years he took this to even greater levels when, due to the shortages of WWII, he was forced to switch from bronze to carving wood sculptures.

Lamb was one of Scotland's leading portrait sculptors of the time. Had he had more business acumen he could easily have made a fortune, instead he stayed in his native Montrose portraying the ordinary fisherfolk of Montrose and Ferryden. There is always tremendous character in Lamb's works, something you don't often see in public sculpture:

During his tour of France Lamb's friend Ray Simm was with him on one occasion and remembered Lamb pointing to the raised arm of one of Rodin's ‘Burghers of Calais’ and saying “that makes him walk”. You can see here Lamb's incredible use of the hands of the figure to give it life and movement, not to mention a tremendous sense of latent power. Lamb was also impressed by Rodin's portrayal of the Burghers as ordinary, rough looking men, stripped of any heroic ideal. Likewise Lamb's figures are true portrayals of the ordinary folk he found around him.

Winged Victory of Samothrace:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winged_Victory_of_Samothrace
Burghers of Calais:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burghers_of_Calais

Lamb lived in relative poverty through much of his life. He was unable to realise his 'Titans' in bronze during his lifetime. It was only after his death when he had bequeathed his studio to the town that posthumous commissions were made to have the original models cast in bronze.
Lamb's studio is open during the summer months and is worth a visit with many of his works on display.
There is also, at long last, a biography being published later this year.

Adam Brown · Posted: Mon Jun 29, 2009 1:29 am Post subject:

Jim

I can see now why you've taken a great interest in Willie Lamb. There's something about the hands, they're the hands of a man who's been working in numbing-cold salt water.

I can't wait to see 'The Smith' and the 'Minesweeper'

Adam
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Scottish War Memorials Project
Scottish War Graves Project