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The Wellington Monument, Piccadilly, Manchester

Matthew Noble (c.1817-1876). 1856. The much larger than life-size (13' high) statue of the Duke of Wellington shows him in later life "dressed in a frock-coat with military decorations" speaking in the House of Lords, with his military despatches at his feet. Below him at each corner of the square granite pedestal are four bronze figures representing his attributes, and below and between these are four bronze relief panels showing the high points of his career.

The inauguration of the monument on 30 August 1856 attracted as many as 100,000 spectators and was widely reported. The commentator in the Gentleman's Magazine described how "[t]he mayor having, on behalf of the corporation, accepted the statue, commanded it to be unveiled, which was done amid loud cheering, the band playing the national anthem, and the fountains beginning to play simultaneously"

 

Many Thanks to www.victorianweb.org/sculpture/noble/21.html

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Uploaded on May 8, 2012
Taken on December 10, 2011