Shaftesbury Memorial Fountain
Shaftesbury Memorial Fountain | |
---|---|
Artist | Alfred Gilbert |
Year | 1885–1893 |
Type | Fountain, sculpture |
Medium | Aluminium, bronze |
Dimensions | 1097 cm × 518 cm (432 in × 204 in) |
Location | Piccadilly Circus, London, W1 |
51°30′35″N 0°08′04″W / 51.50984°N 0.13449°W |
The Shaftesbury Memorial Fountain, officially and popularly known as
Description and history
Although the statue is generally known as
As to the figure surmounting the whole if I must confess to a meaning or a raison d être for its being there I confess to have been actuated in its design by a desire to symbolise the work of Lord Shaftesbury the blindfolded Love sending forth indiscriminately yet with purpose his missile of kindness always with the swiftness the bird has from its wings never ceasing to breathe or reflect critically but ever soaring onwards regardless of its own peril and dangers.[6]
The model for the sculpture was Gilbert's studio assistant, a 16-year-old Anglo-Italian, Angelo Colarossi (born 1875 in Shepherd's Bush).[7] Fernando Meacci was involved in the moulding of the fountain[8] and it was probably cast by George Broad & Son.[9]
The memorial was unveiled by The 1st Duke of Westminster on 29 June 1893.[10] Following the unveiling there were numerous complaints. Some felt it was sited in a vulgar part of town (the theatre district), and others felt that it was too sensual as a memorial for a famously sober and respectable Earl. Some of the objections were tempered by renaming the statue as The Angel of Christian Charity,[11] which was the nearest approximation that could be invented in Christian terms for the role Anteros played in the Greek pantheon. However, the name never became widely known and the statue was thence referred to as Eros, the god of sensual love; inappropriate some said in relation to the Earl's commemoration, but hailed by others as an ironic representation of the more carnal side of the neighbourhood, into which Soho had developed.
The whole memorial has been removed from the circus twice in its history. In 1925,
In the winter of 2013–14, the statue was covered with a PVC snow globe featuring internal fans blowing the "snowflakes". This also had the function of protecting the statue from vandalism and it was planned to return in subsequent years. However, strong winds caused the globe to become damaged and deflate and it was not subsequently repaired.[19] In winter 2014–15, octagonal advertising hoardings forming a box for giant Christmas presents had a similar function.[20]
See also
- 1893 in art
- Art Gallery of South Australia, which has a replica
- Greek mythology in western art and literature
- Sefton Park, a park in Liverpool with a replica
References
- ^ On the National Heritage List for England, the fountain's statutory address is SHAFTESBURY MEMORIAL FOUNTAIN EROS, PICCADILLY CIRCUS W1
- ^ "Eros – Shaftesbury Memorial Fountain | Art UK".
- ^ Speel, Bob. "Statue of Eros at Piccadilly Circus". Speel. Retrieved 3 November 2020.
- ^ Bradley, Simon; Pevsner, Nikolaus (2003), London: Westminster, The Buildings of England, vol. 6, London and New Haven: Yale University Press, p. 58
- ^ Lloyd; Mitchinson (2006). The Book of General Ignorance.
Because of the bow and the nudity... everybody assumed it was Eros, the Greek god of love
- ^ Hatton, Joseph (1903). The Life and Works of Alfred Gilbert. London: Art Journal. p. 16. Retrieved 3 November 2020.
- ^ "Eros", National Conservation Centre
- ^ British bronze sculpture founders and plaster figure makers, 1800–1980 – M
- ^ British bronze sculpture founders and plaster figure makers, 1800–1980 – B
- ^ Ward-Jackson, Philip (2011), Public Sculpture of Historic Westminster: Volume 1, Public Sculpture of Britain, vol. 14, Liverpool: Liverpool University Press, p. 225
- ^ Fountains and Water Features Archived 27 December 2015 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Daily Express (1938). These Tremendous Years, 1919-1938. Daily Express. p. 75.
- ^ Weinreb, Ben; Hibbert, Christopher (1992). The London Encyclopaedia (reprint ed.). Macmillan. p. 271.
- ISBN 0-7230-0068-9.)
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: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link - ^ The Scotsman 30th June 1947.
- ^ Eros Restored : For a Mere $250,000 You Can Own a Life-Size Casting of One of London's Best-Known Statues, 31 May 1987|Bevis Hillier
- ^ Repairs and Alterations to Listed Building Supplementary Planning Guidance
- ^ Universal restring Eros after he broke his bow!
- ^ Piccadilly Circus Eros 'snow globe' will not return
- ^ NOV 28, 2014| LOCAL AUTHORITY CONTRACT. Eros surrounded by box of giant Christmas presents
External links
- The Shaftesbury Memorial Fountain at University of London & History of Parliament Trust