Elizabeth Bradford Holbrook

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Elizabeth Bradford Holbrook, C.M., O.Ont., LL.D., R.C.A., OSA, SSC, CPA, FOCAD, NSSNY. (born November 7, 1913) is regarded as one of Canada’s finest portrait sculptors, her career has spanned over seven decades.

Born in Hamilton, Ontario, on 7 November 1913^[1] the great-great-granddaughter of John Willson, she was a student of the eminent sculptor Emanuel Hahn 1937-1938. Holbrook studied at the Ontario College of Art, Royal College of Art in London England 1936 and at Cranbrook Academy of Art in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan at the studio of Carl Milles 1948.

She was an Art Lecturer and Instructor in Sculpture at Dundas Valley School of Art 1964, 1968. She was a lecturer and instructor of sculpture at the Burlington Cultural Centre 1990-1993 and at McMaster University, Faculty of Arts in Hamilton, Ontario 1995-1999.

A recipient of the Lieut. Governor’s Silver Medal for Sculpture, 1935; National Sculpture Society of New York, Gold Medal, 1969 and the Canadian Portrait Academy Cleeve Horne Award - Best Portrait Sculpture, 1998; Holbrook’s sculptures are among some of the very best that Canada has known. In 1995, she was made a Member of the Order of Canada and was awarded the Order of Ontario in 1997.

Her celebrated statue of George Bernard Shaw, 1997 located at Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario attests to this contribution. Holbrook’s portrait sculptures are represented in over 50 important public collections worldwide.

Her works include the bronze 24' standing figure of a Royal Military College of Canada cadet 1979 (later known as ‘Brucie’), which was a gift of the Royal Military College Club. She also produced a bronze bust of Colonel George Stanley, a former Royal Military College professor, who designed the Canadian Flag. ^[2]

She was mentor to acclaimed Canadian artist Christian Cardell Corbet. Her last commissioned sculptures were that of Lord Conrad Black and his wife Barbara Amiel created ca. 2001 which was arranged through Christian Cardell Corbet.