Louis Osman
Louis Osman (30 January 1914 – 11 April 1996) was an English artist, architect,
Early life
He was the son of Charles Osman of
War service
During the Second World War he was a Major in the Intelligence Corps serving with the Combined Operations Headquarters and Special Air Service as a specialist in Air Photography. He also served on the Beach Reconnaissance Committee prior to Normandy landings on 6 June 1944.
Career
In the late 1930s he took part in the
After war service he worked in London designing buildings, furniture, tapestries, and glass including work in
During the 1970s he and his wife lived at
Personal life
In 1940 he married Dilys Roberts of Rotherfield, East Sussex and they had one daughter.[1]
Selected works
Architecture
- The Old Court at Winterbrook House, Wallingford, for Agatha Christie and Max Mallowan, with whom he was in Syria (1939)
- Cavendish Square, London. Restoration and improvements to numbers 11–14 following bomb damage, a Convent and installation of Epstein's Madonna and Child statue. (1950)[6]
- Newnham College, Cambridge, Principal's Lodging, with sculptures by Geoffrey Clarke and designed like a tiny Italian Renaissance palazzo. (1958)[7]
- Restoration of the Georgian garden 'Birdcage' arbour at Melbourne Hall. (1958)[7]
- Ranston House, Dorset – almost total rebuild of a Georgian mansion. (1961–63)[7]
- Staunton Harold Church now owned by the National Trust.[7]
- A staircase 5 ft wide in green oak for Lady Hollenden in Gloucestershire. (1985)[7]
Unexecuted architectural works
- Design for rebuilding of St John's Smith Square as a concert Hall with a ceiling by Picasso.[7]
- St Edmund Hall, Oxford a tall cantilevered tower.[7]
Ecclesiastical
- Shere Church 14th century glass and chancel fittings renewed in 1956, together with altar frontals and altar cross and candlesticks.[7]
- Lincoln Cathedral - treasury (1960)
- Ely Cathedral – a new high altar cross with central crucifix by Graham Sutherland now in the Dallas Museum. (1964)[7]
- Exeter Cathedral – a new high altar cross, now in St Gabriel's Chapel
Gold and silver working
- A very heavy cast silver wine mug for Sir Henry Tizard to use at Goldsmiths' Hall. (1958)[7]
- Coronet of Charles, Prince of Wales (1969)[8]
- A lectern for the Victoria and Albert Museum (1976).[7]
- Donald Reid Medal for the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.
- 1971 Gold Exhibition at Goldsmiths' Hall with 105 exhibits by Osman.[7]
- 1974 Exhibition of 131 pieces at Canons Ashby.[7]
See also
References
- ^ a b c OSMAN, Louis, Who Was Who, A & C Black, an imprint of Bloomsbury Publishing plc, 1920–2008; online edn, Oxford University Press, Dec 2007, accessed 23 May 2013
- ^ Obituary, The Independent, 17 April 1996, accessed 23 April 2013
- ISBN 9781841144900. Retrieved 23 May 2013
- ^ RIBA Donadson medalist 2012, accessed 23 May 2013
- ^ Washington Post: Original Magna Carta and replica get a cleaning 20 August 2010, accessed 23 May 2013
- ^ Ornamental Passions website, accessed 24 May 2013
- ^ Independent.co.uk. 16 April 1996.
- ^ Picture of coronet and the investiture in the Royal Collection