Statues - Hither & Thither

THE YOUNG DARWIN
by Anthony Smith

This statue was unveiled by
HRH The Duke of Edinburgh KG KT
Chancellor of the University and Visitor of Christ's College
on the 200th anniversary of Darwin's birth
12th February 2009

Charles Darwin Bicentenary Statue

This bronze sculpture of Charles Darwin was created to celebrate the
bicentenary of his birth, February 12th 2009, though the generosity of
Dr Alan Smith (1964). In contrast to the universal image of Darwin as
an elderly, bearded man, this sculpture depicts a twenty-two year old
Darwin (May 1831) during his final year at Christ's.

About the statue. In his hand is a volume of Alexander von
Humboldt's Personal Narrative – a book that triggered Darwin's desire
to travel and observe the geology and natural history of far-away places.
Beneath the tails of his coats are other important books from his time
at Christ's – William Paley's Natural Theology, John Herschel's
Preliminary Discourse on Natural Philosophy, and James Stephens'
Illustrations of British Entomology. Look out for Brachinus crepitans
while you are admiring the statue, it echoes one of Darwin's great
passions (collecting beetles).