
From the National Theatre to St Thomas’ Hospital, the South Bank
is lined with a variety of statues and sculpture. A stroll along
the river, stopping at some of the nearby buildings, will allow
you to discover up to twenty historical, functional or aesthetic
pieces of public art.
| 1.
'London Pride' Sculpture, 1987, Frank Dobson.
Situated outside the National Theatre.
Cast from the plaster original commissioned for the Festival of
Britain. Two larger than life-sized women are seated on a plinth.
Plaque is set on the walkway before it.
Plaque reads: "London Pride" Frank Dobson (1886-1963). Commissioned
for The Festival Of Britain 1951. Given by Mary Dobson 1987 and
placed on the South Bank. Assisted generously by Lynton Property
& Reversionary Plc and The Henry Moore Foundation. Arts Council
Of Great Britain. |
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| 2.
'Arena' Sculpture, 1983-88, John Maine.
Situated outside the National Theatre.
Commissioned for the Sculpture Show and the SBC. A broken circle
of concrete blocks set at irregular angles forming an arena in the
area before the National Theatre. |
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| 3. The Sturgeon Lampstandards. 1870-1964, George
Vulliamy.
Placed along the embankment.
Also called the Dolphin Lampstandards, these functional pieces
of art line the South Bank. The cast iron standards with their globe-like
lanterns were erected from 1870 onwards on the Albert Embankments
and Victoria Embankment opposite. Curled around the base of the
standards is the model of a sturgeon and each base alternately displays
either the date of construction or an inscription to the Queen.
When building County Hall in 1933, the L.C.C. extended the standards
to cover its own embankment. In 1964, the L.C.C installed twenty-eight
more of the standards to run from County Hall to the South Bank
Concert Halls. |
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| 4. Hayward Gallery Neon Tower, 1972, Philip Vaughan
& Roger Dainton.
Placed on top of the Hayward Gallery.
A 'Kinetic Sculpture'. Argon tubes of different colours illuminate
in sequences which change according to wind speed and direction.
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| 5.
'Pend' Sculpture, 1983, Anne Nicholson.
Situated outside Queen Elizabeth Hall. Currently being restored.
Commissioned for the Sculpture Show by the Serpentine and the SBC. |
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| 6.
'Zemran' Sculpture, 1972, William Pye.
Situated on the first exterior level of the Royal Festival Hall.
Smooth stainless steel shapes situated next to the Queen Elizabeth
Hall. Plaque set beside it.
Plaque reads: "Zemran" by William Pye (b1938). Presented to the
Greater London Council 3 May 1972 by Nadia Nerina. |
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| 7. 'Nelson Mandela' Sculpture, 1985, Iain Walters.
Situated on the first exterior level of the Royal Festival Hall.
Cast in bronze. Mandela's story is inscribed on the plinth, both
at the time of unveiling and updated to take account of the course
of his life. Unveiled in 1985, the statue was for many years the
focus of much political activism. The current bronze statue replaces
the original fibreglass sculpture after it was repeatedly vandalised
and finally set on fire.
Inscription reads: "The Struggle Is My Life" Nelson Mandela. Gaoled
5th August 1962. Sentenced to life imprisonment 12th June 1964 for
his actions against apartheid. Erected by the Greater London Council.
Unveiled by Oliver Tambo, President of the African National Congress
28th October 1985.
To this was also added: Nelson Mandela was released after 27 years
imprisonment 11th February 1990. Awarded Nobel Peace Prize 19th
December 1993. Inaugurated President of the Republic of South Africa
and its Government of National Unity 10th May 1994. |
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| 8. 'Riverwalk' Sculpture, 1893, Richard Harris,
Passage Paving.
Situated outside the Royal Festival Hall, ground level. Commissioned
for the Sculpture Show by the SBC and the Serpentine. A small flight
of concrete steps lead from the Riverside to Belvedere Road. On
either side of the steps, are 'waves' of concrete paving. Plaque
set beside it.
Plaque reads: Richard Harris, Passage Paving 1983. Concrete Paving
Stones. The Sculpture Show. 50 Sculptors at the Serpentine and the
South Bank. |
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| 9.
'Jubilee Oracle' Sculpture, 1980, Alexander.
Situated next to the Jubilee Gardens.
A pair of abstract bronze shapes with rough and smooth surfaces.
Plinth carries an inscription by the sculptor.
Inscription reads: "Jubilee Oracle" by Alexander 1980. 'Mankind
is capable of an awareness that is outside the range of everyday
life. My monumental sculptures are created to communicate with that
awareness in a way similar to classical music. Just as most symphonies
are not intended to be descriptive, so these works do not represent
figures or objects.’ |
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| 10.
International Brigade Memorial, 1985, Ian Walters.
Situated in the Jubilee Gardens.
Plinth carries a memorial inscription on the east face and two
quotations on the north and south faces.
Inscription reads: In honour of over 2100 men and women volunteers
who left these shores to fight side by side with the Spanish people
in their heroic struggle against Fascism 1936-1939. Many were wounded
and maimed, 526 were killed, their example inspired the world.
Quotations read: 'They went because their open eyes could see no
other way.' and
'Yet Freedom! Yet thy banner, torn but flying, streams like the
thunder-storm against the wind.' |
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| 11. The Shell Fountain, 1960, Frank Belsky.
Situated in the courtyard of the Shell Centre Upstream.
A column of bronze shells form the centrepiece of this (currently
inactive) fountain.
Presumed to be built with the Shell Building itself, around 1957. |
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| 12.
'Motor Cyclist' Sculpture, c. 1957, Siegfried Charoux.
Situated in the courtyard of the Shell Centre Upstream.
A larger than life-sized motor cyclist straddles his machine, only
half of which is visible. Plinth carries a plaque.
Plaque reads: Motor Cyclist, Siegfreid Charoux 1896-1967 |
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| 13. Dali Universe Exhibits. 1977-1984, Salvador
Dali.
Situated on the embankment outside the Dali Universe, County Hall.
Advertising the permanent exhibition to the Spanish Surrealist
artist, three of his original works in bronze line the embankment:
Space Venus (A female torso separated in two, to which is added
a soft watch and egg and two ants, 1977-84.); Space Elephant (Based
on a 1946 painting by Dali, an elephant with spider legs carries
an obelisk on its back, 1980.) and Nobility Of Time (A soft watch
draped against the remains of a trees and topped by a crown, 1977-84.). |
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| 14. The South Bank Lion, 1837 (Restored 1951),
W F Woodington.
Situated outside County Hall, next to Westminster Bridge.
13' long, 12' high and weighing 13 tons. The paw bears the date
24/5/1837 and the initials WFW. The original red colour has been
removed to show the Coade Stone underneath. It now stands on a plinth
bearing a plaque which briefly outlines the Lion's history. The
second, smaller Coade Stone Lion, which also stood on the Brewery
is now placed outside the entrance of Twickenham Rugby Ground.
Originally stood on the parapet of Red Lion Brewery. When the bomb-damaged
Brewery was demolished to make room for the 1951 Festival Hall,
the Lion was saved at the request of King George VI and moved to
the entrance of Waterloo Station. When the Station was expanded
in 1966 the Lion was moved to its present location, Westminster
Bridge and renamed 'The South Bank Lion'. When the Lion was moved
from the top of the Brewery, a time capsule from 1837 was found
in the recess of its back: a bottle with two William IV coins and
a Coade Co. calling card. This was replaced with a 1966 coin and
articles about the Lion's history. |
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| 15.
Revolving Torsion Fountain, 1972, Naum Gabo.
Placed in St. Thomas’ Hospital Garden.
A metal water fountain set in the centre of a large shallow circular
pool. Plaque set on one of the surrounding low walls.
Plaque reads: Revolving Torsion Fountain (1972-73) Naum Gabo (1890-1977).
Restored February 1987 with the generous help of the Special Trustees
of St. Thomas' Hospital and the Tate Gallery Foundation. |
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| 16.
Robert Clayton Statue, 1702, Grinling Gibbons.
Situated in a small garden outside St. Thomas’ Hospital.
Over-lifesize marble statue of Sir Robert Clayton, commissioned
in 1702 during his lifetime to celebrate his great generosity. Clayton,
Lord Mayor of the City of London and President of the Governors
of St. Thomas', in 1693, personally paid for new hospital buildings.
One of only four documented large scale works by Grinling Gibbons.
The pink tint of the stone was caused by wartime fire damage. Both
hands are 1955 restorations in alabaster rather than marble.
Moved in 1870 from one of the three courts at the main gateway
of the old St Thomas' Hospital in Borough High Street, Southwark. |
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| 17. Edward VI Statue, 1736, P Scheemakers.
Situated outside the main entrance of St. Thomas’ Hospital.
A bronze statue of the boy king, patron and re-founder of St. Thomas'
hospital in 1551. The statue carries fine detailing and a relaxed
stance. Composed from 'Dutch Metal' (an alloy of copper, zinc and
brass, with a high percentage of copper to give it a strong blue-green
colour).
Moved in 1870 from one of the three courts at the main gateway
of the old St Thomas' Hospital in Borough High Street, Southwark.
Paid for by a legacy from Charles Joyce, Treasurer of St. Thomas'
1724-38. |
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| 18.
Edward VI Statue, 1682, Thomas Cartwright.
Situated outside the main entrance of St. Thomas’ Hospital.
A stone statue of the boy king, patron and re-founder of St. Thomas'
hospital in 1551. The hand and sceptre were restored in 1990.
Moved in 1870 from one of the three courts at the main gateway
of the old St Thomas' Hospital in Borough High Street, Southwark.
(Source: Florence Nightingale Museum Archive) |
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| 19. Cross The Divide Sculpture, 2000, Rick Kirby.
Situated on the footbridge outside the main entrance of St. Thomas’
Hospital.
Two giant figures constructed from small metal plates welded together
reach out to each other from their respective plinths. Plaque set
between them.
Plaque reads: Unveiled by Her Royal Highness The Princess Margaret,
Countess of Snowdon on 25th September 2000. The Sculpture was commissioned
by the Guys' & St. Thomas' Charitable Foundation in association
with de Putron Art Consultants. |
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| 20. 'South Of The River' Sculpture, 1972, Bernard
Schottlander.
Situated outside Becket House on Lambeth Palace Road.
Two metal arcs with fins, joined back to back with a twist in the
middle. Funded by British Steel (Ernst & Young). Plaque set
beside it.
Plaque reads: "South Of The River" by Bernard Schottlander 1976.
Born Mainz Germany 1924. Cast by British Steel. |
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