Albert Bruce-Joy was an Irish sculptor working in England. His original surname was Joy but he became known under his hyphenated name Bruce-Joy later in life. He was the brother of the painter George W. Joy. Son of William Bruce Joy, MD, Bruce-Joy was born in Dublin but educated in Offenbach, Paris and at King’s College London. He trained as a sculptor with John Henry Foley at the National Art Training School, South Kensington, and the Royal Academy Schools. He began exhibiting at the Royal Academy from 1866 onwards. In 1867 he gave an address in Rome where he is said to have spent three years. After his return to London, he took over the commission for a statue of Robert James Graves for the Royal College of Physicians in Dublin. This was originally given to the late John Foley (died 1874) who had previously finished three statues for the College. This marked the start of his specialisation in portrait statues, busts and medallions which were praised at the time for their likeness, and for which he is now mostly known. Bruce-Joy built his house in Shottermill near Haslemere in 1891, and travelled to America twice in his life.