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Ernst Blensdorf was born near Schleswig, north Germany, in 1896.
During the late 1920s and early 1930s he began to establish himself
as a sculptor, working in stone and cast metal. His passionate belief in
world peace put him at odds with the Nazi regime. In 1933 he
became one of the first German artists to be branded �¢??degenerate�¢??.
He left the country shortly afterwards.
Blensdorf went first to Norway and then to Scotland. Following a
period of internment, he came to Somerset in 1941 and settled at
Bruton. He made his living by teaching and working as an artist, using
Somerset elm as the favoured medium for his sculptures. Blensdorf
remained outside the mainstream of the art world and only recently
has his work received wider recognition. He died in 1976. The statue is on display at the Bishop's Palace, Wells from 13th February 2010.