Sir Harry Sheil Elster Vanderpant

NOTES: Sir Harry Vanderpant (1866-1955) was a barrister and a Councillor of the City of Westminster for many years. He became Lord Mayor in 1938 and was knighted the following year. Vanderpant gave the RIBA £10,000 in 1931, half of which was to go to the New Premises Fund and the other half to fund a Travelling Scholarship. Both sums were to commemmorate Vanderpant's benefactor, Henry Louis Florence (1843-1916), Vice-President of the RIBA 1897-1899. The RIBA's new main hall was therefore named the Henry Florence Hall. In gratitude, the RIBA commissioned this bust of Vanderpant from Dora Gordine and it was unveiled in November 1938. Immediately beforehand, it was exhibited at the Leicester Galleries, no.39.