Statues - Hither & Thither

 

Description

'Official' description from the Liverpool Daily Post, 28 September 1906:

This imposing monument occupies a commanding position in the heart of the city, the site being of special interest as that on which the Castle of Liverpool formerly stood, and afterwards St. George's Church.
The central feature in the design is the statue of her late Majesty, who stands attired in robes of state, and with crown, orb, and sceptre. This statue, 14ft. 6 in. in height, is, with its pedestal raised considerably above the street level on a terraced platform, and surmounted by a domed canopy beautifully ceiled with gold mosaic.
The dome, which is supported on sixteen Ionic columns arranged in four groups, bears on its summit a globe supporting a winged "Fame." Round the base of the dome, immediately over the groups of columns, are placed figures emblematic of virtues by which our late Queen distinguished – Peace, Justice, Wisdom, and Charity.
The platform is planned with four large bays, interspaced with flights of steps, by which the main statue can approached on all sides. The bays are balustrated and terminated at either end by pedestals with vases; and in the centre of each a larger pedestal, enriched with inscribed tablet, bears a colossal group of sculpture, the four subjects included being Education, Industry, Commerce, and Agriculture. These groups, only two which are are as yet in position, form very important features the general scheme. That presenting Education has added interest from the fact that the professor who with a student ponders over the action of the gyroscope strongly recalls the features of Sir Oliver Lodge, who, as Professor of Physics, was so long associated with the University of Liverpool.
The "Industry group has for centre the figure of a smith, who, with sledge hammer and "governors", typifies physical and mechanical energy. He is supported on the one side by an engineer with model of screw propeller, and on the other by a female figure with distaff, suggestive of the great spinning industries of the North.
The other groups now in progress will reveal "Agriculture" – a peasant woman with fruits and flowers, seated between a mower and a shepherd: and "Commerce" – a merchant, with model of a ship, directing labourers as to the disposal of merchandise.
(…)
The memorial is one the largest in the kingdom, and is over 60 feet height. The archictectural portions are in Portland stone, and all the sculptures in bronze.
The memorial was designed by Messrs. W.F. Willink and P.C. Thicknesse, and Professor F.M. Simpson, and the sculptures are the work of Mr C.J. Allen, of Liverpool.

The monument features 26* bronze figures by C. J. Allen and was designed by F. M. Simpson of the Liverpool School of Architecture, in collaboration with the local architectural firm of Willink and Thicknesse. The foundation stone was laid on 11 October 1902 by Field Marshal Lord Roberts, Commander-in-Chief of the Forces and the monument was unveiled on 27 September 1906 by Princess Louise Duchess of Argyl daughter of Queen Victoria.
(* Victoria, Fame, and eight allegories with each three figures).

Allegorical sculptures on the dome

Fame.

Charity, with a child in her arm, the two at her feet are clinging to her draperies.	Wisdom, reading a book with a serpent in her left arm. The putto in the left holds a globe and compasses, the other a scroll or book.
Justice, blindfolded, with sword and scales. The two putti holds a bare root and a fruiting apple branch.	Peace, with a palm branch and a dove. The two putti eacht hold a cornucopia and an olive branch.

Allegorical sculptures on the perimeter

Education. A man, wearing academic robes - the model was Sir Oliver Lodge (1851-1940, physicist, Wikipedia), one of the first professors of the University. He ponders on the action of a gyroscope held in his right hand, watched by a student. The third figure is a little boy reading from a book. Between the academic professor and tbe student, visible only from the rear, is a globe resting on a low pedestal.

Agriculture depicted as a young woman flanked by two male figures. She holds in her hands the fruiting branch of an apple tree, and a bunch of flowers. The old man with a shepherd's crook represents Animal Husbandry. The third figure is Horticulture, holding a scythe and at his feet is a sheaf of corn.

Commerce. A bearded man wearing a hat and greatcoat sits on a bale. In his right hand he holds some papers and a book, whilst with his left hand, he holds the stern of a model steamship, the bow of which is held by a labourer. Another labourer stands next to him and has a heavylooking sack upon his back.

Industry / Manufacture. The central figure personifies physical and mechanical energy. He wears sits upon an anvil and holds in his hands a sledgehammer and a 'governor' (a device for regulating the steam pressure in the pump which stands behind him). The woman on his left holding a distaff symbolises the spinning industry. The third figuresus an engineer, holding a ship's propeller blade.

Inscription(s)

Signature

Sculptor

• Charles John Allen (1862-1956), British sculptor, a figure in the New Sculpture movement (Wikipedia).

Sources & Information

• Wikipedia, List of public art in Liverpool.
• Wikipedia, Victoria Monument, Liverpool.
• Wikipedia, List of statues of Queen Victoria.
• Terry Cavanagh, Public Sculpture of Liverpool. Liverpool University Press, 1997, pp. 36-43.
• Liverpool Mercury, 11 October 1902, Liverpool Evening Express, 27 Sept. 1906, and Liverpool Daily Post, 28 Sept. 1906 (British Newspaper Archive).
• Bob Speel, Queen Victoria Monument, Derby Square, Liverpool.

Tags

Locatie (N 53°24'18" - W 2°59'24") (Satellite view: Google Maps)

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