Statues - Hither & Thither

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Kensington Gardens (W2)

Peter Pan

character created by Scottish novelist and playwright J. M. Barrie (1860-1937)
(Wikipedia)

sir George Frampton
1912

Description

Bronze sculpture of Peter Pan playing his pipes on a tree stump surrounded by rabbits, mice, squirrels and fairies.

London - Peter Pan

Signature

geo. frampton r.a. | 1912

Information Sign

PETER PAN
The boy who would not grow up
Sculptor Sir George Frampton R.A. 1860-1928

This bronze, a gift of Sir James Barrie OM 1860-1937
the creator of Peter Pan, was placed here
1st May 1912

HRH The Princes Margaret, Countess of Snowdon
unveiled this plaque presented by the
Friends of Hyde Park & Kensington Gardens
1st May 1997

Annotation

Model for the statue should have been Michael Llewelyn-Davies (1900-1921; Wikipedia), whose family inspired Barrie to write his story. The statue was commissioned by Barrie. was supposed to be modelled upon photographs of Michael Llewelyn Davies at the age of six, dressed as the character. However, sculptor George Frampton used a different child as his model, leaving Barrie very disappointed with the result. "It doesn't show the devil in Peter," the writer said.

The statue was erected in secret during the night of 30 April 1912.

Copies of Frampton's statue of Peter Pan are in London (Kensington Gardens), Liverpool (Sefton Park), Brussel (Egmontpark), Perth, W.A. (Queen's Gardens), Toronto (Glenn Gould Park), St. John's Newfoundland (Bowring Park), and Camden NJ (Rutgers University)

London - Peter Pan

Sculptor

Sir George James Frampton, RA (London 1860-1928), British sculptor (Wikipedia).

Sources & Information

Wikipedia, Peter Pan in Kensington Gardens.
Wikipedia, List of public art in the City of Westminster.
Bob Speel, London sculpture.
John Blackwood, London's Immortals: The Complete Outdoor Commemorative Statues (London: Savoy, 1989), p. 136-137.
Andrew Kershman, London's Monuments (London: Metro Publ., 2013), p. 297.
Peter Matthews, London's Statues and Monuments (Botley: Shire, 2012), p. 135-136.

Locatie (N 51°30'30" - W 0°10'33") (Satellite view: Google Maps)

Item Code: gblo104; Photograph: 6 August 2014
Of each statue we made photos from various angles and also detail photos of the various texts.
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© Website and photos: René & Peter van der Krogt

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