Statues - Hither & Thither

Site Search:

The Parade

Sir George Don

Edinburgh 1756 - Gibraltar 1832
British Army military officer and colonial governor; his most important work was in military and defensive organisation against the threat of French invasion during the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars; governor of Jersey, 1806-1814 and Gibraltar
(Wikipedia)

Pierre Robinet
A. Durenne (Paris)
1885

Description

Cast iron statue of General Don with a roll in his hands, on a high pedestal. On the sides of the pedestal are the figures of Ceres, the Greek goddess of agriculture as a symbol of prosperity Don brought to Jersey, and Mercury, the messenger of the gods, here depicted because Don's road-building programme enabled swifter travel throughout Jersey. Another interpretation of Mercury, because of the presence of the anchor and, arguably, the wave-like cornucopia on his side, is that he is intended to represent the sea, and thus Ceres the land. Ceres' pose is static - like the land, while that of Mercury is fluid and coiled yet langourous - like the sea.

Saint Helier - Sir George Don
Ceres
Mercury

Inscription(s)

A
DON
1806
a
1814

Signature

(side figures) A Durenne | paris

Information Sign

GENERAL SIR GEORGE DON (1756-1832)
served in jersey 1792-1793, 1806-1809 and 1810-1814.
on 21^st may, 1810, presented by the militia with
gold-hilted sword. now in edinburgh war museum.
left jersey in 1814 to become governor of gibraltar
died 1^st january, 1832, and buried on site of
gibraltar cathedral.
monument unveiled 29^th october, 1885.

Saint Helier - Sir George Don

Sculptor

Pierre Alfred Robinet (Paris 1811 - Paris 1878), French sculptor (Wikipedia).

Sources & Information

The island Wiki, Statues and Monuments.
La Société Jersiaise, Statues and monuments in Jersey.
Louise Downie, St. Helier's Sculpture Trail (PDF on-line).
Jersey Public Sculpture Trust, Public Art in St Helier (PDF on-line).
E-monumen.net.

Locatie (N 49°11'14" - W 2°6'37") (Satellite view: Google Maps)

Item Code: je12; Photograph: 2 August 2015
Of each statue we made photos from various angles and also detail photos of the various texts.
If you want to use photos, please contact us via the contact form (in Dutch, English or German).
© Website and photos: René & Peter van der Krogt

Your banner here? Click for information.