Art
THE KING... INTENDS TO LAY THE FOUNDATION STONE FOR THE E. STATUE
WESTMACOTT
(Sir Richard, 1775-1856, Sculptor)
Fine Autograph Letter Signed to an unnamed correspondent
sincerely regretting "that it will not be in my power to dine with you. The King, it has been intimated to me, intends laying the Foundation Stone for the E. Statue on the 12th & although I am not yet under any Commands it has been hinted to me that I should be at Windsor in case of being asked for. It will indeed be an extraordinary thing to find any other person than the Artist who executes the work, putting the Trowel into His Majesty's hands..." with a postscript that he is spending the day with his family at Richmond, 3 sides 8vo., no place, no date but
Item Date: 1829
£225
✓ Available
Background
The “E. Statue” is the equestrian statue now often referred to as The Copper Horse. The King is George IV and his birthday falls on the twelfth of August. The statue depicts George IV’s father, George III, mounted on a horse. Westmacott took as his model for the work an ancient equestrian statue of Marcus Aurelius, dating from the second century A.D. On his birthday, August 12th in 1829, George IV laid a foundation stone for the base of the statue in Windsor Great Park. Ironically, the statue itself was only installed two years later, in 1831, after George IV’s death. The work is colossal, being nearly eight metres high.
It is interesting that Westmacott was somewhat indignant at not having yet been assured that he would be the one to hand the “Trowel” to the king at the foundation-laying ceremony. Instead, he was merely asked to be present at Windsor “in case of being asked for”.
Stock No. 39789
Guaranteed Authentic
Worldwide Shipping
ABA / ILAB Member
Returns Policy