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In Detail
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.

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.

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.

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.

 

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.’

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.'

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.

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

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.).

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.

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.

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.

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.

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)

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.

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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