Victoria Regina Imperatrix
Photograph by George P. Landow
Image courtesy of: http://victorian.lang.nagoya-u.ac.jp/
Situated at the south-west end of the Mall, directly opposite the main entrance of Buckingham Palace, Sir Thomas Brock's Victoria Memorial is immediately recognizable from the counless of images captured by both tourist and media cameras on any number of ceremonial or state occasions. Over the decades since its construction, it has, in fact, become an integral part of the face of London - and no royal jubilation or national milestone would be complete without it, with the expected and familiar sight of millions of people enveloping it en masse.
For the vast monument, which was formally unveiled by King George V in 1911 to commemorate Queen Victoria's death in 1901, it is estimated that 2,300 tonnes of white Carrara marble was used, and it stands twenty-five meters (eighty-two feet) high upon a flight of granite steps which form a circular dais or stage; bronze, gilding, and granite were also comprehensively incorporated into the design. An interesting side fact: at the unveiling ceremony in 1911, King George V spontaneously knighted Thomas Brock. (Brock (1847-1922) was responsible for the design of the central monument while the architect Sir Aston Webb (1849-1930) was responsible for the overall concept of its environs.) (Sources: royalparks.org.uk, undated; britannica.com, undated)
An early model of the Victoria Memorial
The partially completed Memorial
The above two images are courtesy of: http://www.victorianweb.org/
Intended as a national as well as an imperial tribute to the late monarch, the monument is comprised of several figures, foremost among them is that of the imposing Queen Victoria herself. The longest-reigning monarch in British history - a reign which lasted for more than sixty-three years - Victoria is shown regally enthroned among other figures which surround her and who constitute the rest of the central monument; these statues allegorically represent integral Victorian values: (winged) Justice and Truth, (maternal) Charity and - surmounting the entire monument - the gilded figure of Victory, seeming to have just alighted atop of the pinnacle's orb, appears with Courage and Constancy (also gilded) at her feet.
Encompassing the central monument are fountains - the reclining figures of Science and Art with Naval and Military Powers overlooking them. Other allegorical (bronze) figures representing Manufacture, Harvest, Peace and Progress are depicted confidently striding with companion lions - symbols long-since associated with the British monarchy and Britannia; these figures are situated on the peripheral limit of the monument. (Source: royalparks.org.uk, undated; victorianweb.org, 2001)
Photograph by Shashikiran ~ 1999
Image courtesy of: http://www.momentsofvirtue.com/
While Brock was given the responsibility of conceptualizing and executing the monument by the Memorial Executive Committee, as part of the grand scheme in which it was erected, the task was left to Webb to provide a suitable setting for Brock's monument by reconstructing the Mall. (Source: Salaman, M. C., victorianweb.org, 2010)
But the monument does not stand alone. Instead, it is part of a greater concept, and the whole of it includes the Dominion Gates and Memorial Gardens. Installed in 1908 by Sir Aston Webb (who widened the Mall to accommodate the memorial scheme), the Dominion Gates - which are formed of stone columns and gilded wrought iron gates presented by the dominions of Canada and Australia - are situated at the entrance to The Green Park and face the Victoria Memorial. The statuary on the pillars are by Alfred Drury and Derwent Wood; the gates are by the Bromsgrove Guild (artists associated with the Arts and Crafts Movement). The entire monument is maintained by The Royal Parks. (Source: royalparks.org.uk, undated)
Photograph by George P. Landow ~ 1999
Image courtesy of: http://www.victorianweb.org/
"Victoria Regina Imperatrix"
Photograph by C. G. P. Grey ~ 2007
Image courtesy of: http://commons.wikimedia.org/
Close-up of Queen Victoria
Image courtesy of: http://www.lonelyplanet.com/
2007
Image courtesy of: http://picasaweb.google.com/
Image courtesy of: http://www.travelpod.com/
Figure of "Charity"
Image courtesy of: http://www.hamovhotov.com/
Close-up of "Charity"
Image courtesy of: http://www.worldisround.com/
"Charity" (also known as "Motherhood")
"Justice"
"Truth"
All of the above photographs are by George P. Landow ~ 2009
The above four images are courtesy of: http://www.victorianweb.org/
"Justice"
Image courtesy of: http://www.fotothing.com/
Model of "Truth"
Model of "Justice"
The above two images are courtesy of: http://www.victorianweb.org/
Photograph by Mathieu Soete ~ 2009
Image courtesy of: http://www.flickr.com/
"Victory" with "Constancy" and "Courage"
Image courtesy of: http://commons.wikimedia.org/
"Constancy"
Photographs by Rev Stan
The above three images are courtesy of: http://www.flickr.com/
"Victory" ~ 2006
The above four images are courtesy of: http://commons.wikimedia.org/
"Courage"
"Constancy"
Photographs by Rachel L. Bullock ~ 2004
Both images above are courtesy of: http://en.wikipedia.org/
Photograph by Daniel
Image courtesy of: http://www.flickr.com/
Model of "Science and Art"
Image courtesy of: http://www.victorianweb.org/
"Science and Art"
Photograph by Rich Lewis
Image courtesy of: http://www.flickr.com/
"Science and Art"
Photograph by Kymri Wilt
Image courtesy of: http://kymri.photoshelter.com/
Rear view of "Science and Art"
Image courtesy of: http://3daysinlondon.info/
Model of "Naval and Military Powers"
Image courtesy of: http://www.victorianweb.org/
"Naval and Military Powers" Fountain
Photograph by George P. Landow
Image courtesy of: http://victorian.lang.nagoya-u.ac.jp/
Rear view of "Naval and Military Powers"
Image courtesy of: http://3daysinlondon.info/
"Naval and Military Powers"
"Peace"
Photographs above are by Steve F. E. Cameron ~ 2007
The two images above are courtesy of: http://commons.wikimedia.org/
Model of "Peace"
Image courtesy of: http://www.victorianweb.org/
"Peace"
Photograph by Katie Westcott ~ 2008
Image courtesy of: http://picasaweb.google.com/
"Peace"
Photograph by Rich Lewis
Image courtesy of: http://www.flickr.com/
"Harvest"
Image courtesy of: http://www.alovelyworld.com/
"Harvest"
Photograph by Attila Ambrozai ~ 2007
Image courtesy of: http://www.panoramio.com/
Model of "Progress"
Image courtesy of: http://www.victorianweb.org/
"Progress"
Photograph by Daniel
Image courtesy of: http://www.flickr.com/
"Progress"
Photograph by Wanblee ~ 2006
Image courtesy of: http://commons.wikimedia.org/
Model of "Manufacture"
Image courtesy of: http://www.victorianweb.org/
"Manufacture"
Image courtesy of: http://travel.webshots.com/
"Manufacture"
Image courtesy of: http://www.naviquan.com/
Buckingham Palace and the Victoria Memorial ~ 2009
Photograph by Margaret In London
Looking down The Mall towards Buckingham Palace and the Victoria Memorial ~ 2004
The above two images are courtesy of: http://picasaweb.google.com/
The Memorial with Buckingham Palace in the background
Image courtesy of: http://www.flickr.com/
Partial detail of the Sea Nymphs fountain ~ Queen Victoria Memorial
Image courtesy of: http://lynnsview.com/
The monument at night
Photograph by Ed O'Keefe ~ 2008
Image courtesy of: http://www.edwud.com/
Suggested readings:
Edwardian Architecture: A Biographical Dictionary (1986), by Alexander Stuart Gray, Jean Breach & Nicholas Breach: University of Iowa Press
Edwardian Architecture: Style and Technology (1995), by Richard A. Fellows: Lund Humphries
The Companion Guide to London (2000), by David Piper & Fionnuala Jervis: Companion Guides
Public Sculpture of the City of London (2003), by Philip Ward-Jackson: Liverpool University Press
Royal London in Context: The Independent Traveler's Guide to Royal London (2004), by Robert Wayne: Independent International Travel, LLC
Discovering London Statues and Monuments (2008), by Margaret Baker: Osprey Publishing
Beautiful post! It puts a lot of the detail in full view and explanation. Even though I live in London I wasn't familiar with all the information you've put forward. Thank you. With kind regards, Katarina.
ReplyDeleteDear Katarina: Thank you for such a nice compliment. It is true that more often than not, we either don't appreciate or we overlook the monumemnts & sceneries in our own cities - until we see them anew through the eyes of a foreigner. I appreciate your comment. ₵. Ð.
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