ILLINGWORTH, Nelson (1862-1926)

sculptor

was born at Portsmouth, England, in August 1862. He studied at the Lambeth art school and worked as a modeller at the Doulton potteries. He emigrated to Sydney in 1892, and in 1895 his head of an Australian aboriginal was bought for the national gallery at Sydney. Other busts were purchased for the same gallery in 1896 and 1900. Illingworth did some architectural sculpture for buildings in Sydney, and a large number of portrait busts of notable men of his time. He also went to New Zealand and modelled some busts of Maori chiefs for the government. He was preparing models for the Henry Lawson (q.v.) statue competition when he died suddenly on 26 June 1926. He left a widow, two sons and two daughters. He was a well-known and well-liked figure in the art world of Sydney.

W. Moore, The Story of Australian Art; The Sydney Morning Herald and The Daily Telegraph, Sydney, 28 June 1926.