William Henry Davies

1 portrait by Theodore Spicer-Simson

Photograph © National Portrait Gallery, London

 Like voting
is closed

Thanks for Liking

Please Like other favourites!
If they inspire you please support our work.

Buy a print Buy a greetings card Make a donation

William Henry Davies

by Theodore Spicer-Simson
plasticine medallion, 1922
3 1/4 in. (84 mm) diameter
Given by Theodore Spicer-Simson, 1924
Primary Collection
NPG 2046

Sitterback to top

Artistback to top

  • Theodore Spicer-Simson (1871-1959), Sculptor and medallist. Artist or producer of 23 portraits, Sitter in 1 portrait.

This portraitback to top

Theodore Spicer-Simson returned to Britain in 1921 to begin making a collection of portraits of leading authors, which were published in his Men of Letters of the British Isles (1924). He gave the Gallery a number of his preparatory models before lettering. The final medals were cast in bronze in small editions.

Later, Spicer-Simson recalled the origins of this medal in his reminiscences, A Collector of Characters (posthumously published, 1962). It was Lawrence Binyon at the British Museum, who set up the initial meeting with the poet, W.H. Davies. Spicer-Simson then arranged to model Davies' features: 'He sat for me in his diggings in Avery Row, Brook Street, where he lived above a laundry establishment. In his room were busts of himself by Epstein and paintings by Augustus John and other celebrated artists. He gave me one of [his] first editions… and inscribed it, adding, 'in memory of being sculptured in relief and a great relief when finished.' '

Linked publicationsback to top

Placesback to top

Portrait setback to top

Subjects & Themesback to top

Events of 1922back to top

Current affairs

The British Broadcasting Company (later British Broadcasting Corporation) is established to experiment with radio broadcasting. It is the largest broadcasting corporation in the world, providing radio, television and Internet services to the public in Britain and across the world.

Art and science

1922 is a key year for modernist literature with the publication of James Joyce's novel, Ulysses and T.S. Eliot's poem, The Waste Land. Both broke new ground with Ulysses (loosely based on Homer's Odyssey) introducing the 'stream of consciousness' narrative technique, and The Waste Land experimenting with multiple voices and a patchwork of literary, historic, mythological and personal allusions.

International

The Soviet Union is formed under Joseph Stalin who takes power after Lenin suffers a debilitating stroke.
In an attempt to avoid civil war, King Victor Emmanuel III of Italy invites Benito Mussolini to form a new government following the Fascist Party's March on Rome.

Comments back to top

We are currently unable to accept new comments, but any past comments are available to read below.

If you need information from us, please use our Archive enquiry service . Please note that we cannot provide valuations. You can buy a print or greeting card of most illustrated portraits. Select the portrait of interest to you, then look out for a Buy a Print button. Prices start at around £6 for unframed prints, £16 for framed prints. If you wish to license an image, select the portrait of interest to you, then look out for a Use this image button, or contact our Rights and Images service. We digitise over 8,000 portraits a year and we cannot guarantee being able to digitise images that are not already scheduled.