Lunchtime Talk: Godfrey Sykes and His Groundbreaking Design Work

Imagine what it was like to be invited to lead the decorative design team for the South London Museum (the former name of the Victoria and Albert Museum) founded in 1852? This was the task assigned to Godfrey Sykes (1824-1866), assistant master and former pupil at the Sheffield School of Design.

Hear how Sykes had already had a successful career in Sheffield as a designer and a painter of
local industries and landscapes before being approached by the South London Museum, and how several others from the Sheffield School of Design became part of his London team.

Sykes is probably best known in Sheffield today for the terra cotta column to his memory in Weston Park (pictured), which was designed by one of his students and London colleagues, James Gamble.

This event is part of our programme for .

Host or Publisher Museums Sheffield