Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- 1891-1894 (Creation)
Level of description
Extent and medium
1 folder
Context area
Name of creator
Biographical history
The artist Alfred Stevens (1818-1875) in 1856 entered a competition to design a monument to Arthur Wellesley (1769-1852), Duke of Wellington, for St Paul's Cathedral. Although his design was placed only sixth in the competition in 1857, it proved to be the only one fit for the proposed site and consequently execution of the monument was entrusted to him. Partly through his procrastination, but chiefly owing to bureaucratic and financial hindrances, the work was unfinished at his death and remained for many years standing in an unfavourable position in the consistory court of St Paul's. In 1892, owing to the recommendation of the artist Sir Frederic (afterwards Lord) Leighton (1830-1896), who raised and contributed to a fund for the purpose, it was moved to the position originally intended. It consisted of a sarcophagus supporting a recumbent bronze effigy of the Duke, surmounted by an arched canopy of late Renaissance style, flanked by large bronze allegorical groups. An equestrian statue of the Duke, designed to surmount the canopy, was never executed.
Repository
Archival history
GB 0103 MS ADD 72 1891-1894 Collection (fonds) 1 folder Wellington Memorial Fund
The artist Alfred Stevens (1818-1875) in 1856 entered a competition to design a monument to Arthur Wellesley (1769-1852), Duke of Wellington, for St Paul's Cathedral. Although his design was placed only sixth in the competition in 1857, it proved to be the only one fit for the proposed site and consequently execution of the monument was entrusted to him. Partly through his procrastination, but chiefly owing to bureaucratic and financial hindrances, the work was unfinished at his death and remained for many years standing in an unfavourable position in the consistory court of St Paul's. In 1892, owing to the recommendation of the artist Sir Frederic (afterwards Lord) Leighton (1830-1896), who raised and contributed to a fund for the purpose, it was moved to the position originally intended. It consisted of a sarcophagus supporting a recumbent bronze effigy of the Duke, surmounted by an arched canopy of late Renaissance style, flanked by large bronze allegorical groups. An equestrian statue of the Duke, designed to surmount the canopy, was never executed.
Unknown.
Letters to Lord Leighton on the Wellington memorial in St Paul's Cathedral.
Open.
Normal copyright restrictions apply.
English
Card index to names of correspondents at University College London Special Collections.
Source: Dictionary of National Biography entry for Alfred Stevens. 1999, revised Jul 2001 Architecture Artists Fine arts Leighton , Frederic , 1830-1896 , Baron Leighton of Stretton , painter x Leighton of Stretton , Baron Monuments Sculptors Sculpture Stevens , Alfred , 1818-1875 , artist St Paul's Cathedral , London Wellesley , Arthur , 1769-1852 , 1st Duke of Wellington , Field Marshal and statesman x Wellington , 1st Duke of Wellington Memorial Fund , fund for completing the Duke of Wellington's memorial
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
Unknown.
Content and structure area
Scope and content
Letters to Lord Leighton on the Wellington memorial in St Paul's Cathedral.
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling
Accruals
System of arrangement
Conditions of access and use area
Conditions governing access
Open.
Conditions governing reproduction
Normal copyright restrictions apply.
Language of material
- English
Script of material
- Latin
Language and script notes
English
Physical characteristics and technical requirements
Finding aids
Card index to names of correspondents at University College London Special Collections.
Allied materials area
Existence and location of originals
Existence and location of copies
Related units of description
Publication note
Notes area
Note
Alternative identifier(s)
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Place access points
Name access points
Genre access points
Description control area
Description identifier
Institution identifier
Rules and/or conventions used
Status
Level of detail
Dates of creation revision deletion
Language(s)
- English