Statue on the south face of the Royal Artillery Memorial, London
Prior to the First World War, military memorials usually celebrated the achievement of military leaders (for example, Nelson's Column or the Duke of York Column). The losses of the 1914-18 war marked a turning point in memorial design, as the sacrifice of ordinary individuals began to be commemorated. The style of memorials at the time had usually depicted symbolic figures such as a quadriga or a Victory figure, but as war memorials began to commemorate the ordinary soldier, the fashion changed towards depicting actual soldiers.
Jagger's Royal Artillery Monument is unusual in that the sculptor took a realist approach to his figures, going against the idealised style of other sculptures of the time. The three upright bronze figures stand at ease, rather than to attention.
Statue on the south face of the Royal Artillery Memorial, London
Prior to the First World War, military memorials usually celebrated the achievement of military leaders (for example, Nelson's Column or the Duke of York Column). The losses of the 1914-18 war marked a turning point in memorial design, as the sacrifice of ordinary individuals began to be commemorated. The style of memorials at the time had usually depicted symbolic figures such as a quadriga or a Victory figure, but as war memorials began to commemorate the ordinary soldier, the fashion changed towards depicting actual soldiers.
Jagger's Royal Artillery Monument is unusual in that the sculptor took a realist approach to his figures, going against the idealised style of other sculptures of the time. The three upright bronze figures stand at ease, rather than to attention.