Yesterday, a new bronze portrait bust of the President of Malta, Dr George Abela was placed among other Presidents Emiriti in the courtyard of San Anton Palace. The bronze commission was undertaken by Anglo-Maltese sculptor Robert Hornyold-Strickland.
Robert Strickland comments, “Being partly Maltese myself, it was a great honour to be asked to sculpt a portrait bronze of the President of Malta, Dr George Abela and. I sincerely hope that I met the challenge of portraying him with his captivating smile.”
The President of Malta, Dr George Abela said, “I am grateful for Mr. Strickland’s time and dedication to produce this excellent work of art and I have been very impressed by his passion for sculpture.”
Robert Hornyold-Strickland studied initially at the Heatherly School of Art, Chelsea, London. He is the great grandson of Lord Strickland, Prime Minister of Malta between the wars, and a great nephew of Mabel Strickland, OBE. A leading portrait sculptor he now divides his time between Malta and the UK. He works in a variety of media but principally in bronze and undertakes private and corporate commissions where he is known for his portrait busts, figurative and ornamental sculptures. Most of his works are unique pieces.
Strickland takes his inspiration from his subjects, be they statesmen, professionals, captains of industry; he has a rare talent for exploring and interpreting the characteristics and traits of the individual in front of him. His figurative sculptures are created using his deep understanding of anatomy and form. The results are evident in his work as he demonstrates his own interpretation of energy, inner spirit and character. Strickland will never render a ‘photographic’ sculpture of his subject, preferring to rely on his own perception of what makes that person tick.
Strickland’s bronze portrait busts, capture the spirit of the individual, be that wisdom, age, grace or intelligence – or a mixture of all an individual’s qualities. Initially, he works in clay, leaving the vital and real traces of his sculptor’s marks on the way, thus giving each piece its dynamic energy. Strickland is always at pains to ensure that these lively elements are never lost in the bronze casting process; to achieve this he works closely and painstakingly with his foundries to achieve the highest standards in casting and patination.
Strickland’s family home is Sizergh Castle up in the Lake District of England and a National Trust Property; it is open to visitors all year round. Strickland’s artwork can be seen on Facebook and www.robertstricklandsculpture.com [1].