Stratford-upon-Avon - William Shakespeare

Directly below these wreaths on the four striking pedestals are four bronze masks with foliage and flowers, each is individually modelled. Two of the masks are tragic and two comic, although they are understated. The masks is symbolic of the character of the additional statue which stands directly in front, and which in turn represents one of four themes:

Inscription(s)

Both main sections have four inscriptions, the upper quotations from the plays, and the lower, relating to the sculpture; its making and unveiling.

NW	SW	SE	NE
good night sweet prince and flights of angels sing thee to thy rest	life's but a walking shadow a poor player that struts and frets his hour upon the stage and then is heard no more	i am not only witty in myself, but the cause that wit is in other men	consideration like an angel came and whipt the offending adam out of him
From Hamlet	From Macbeth	From Henry IV	From Henry V
this monument was removed from the memorial theatre gardens to this site in the year 1933	this monument was unveiled on the 10th of october 1888 by lady hodgson wife of sir arthur hodgson kcmg in the fifth year of his mayorality	[bronze plaque, see below]	ronald gower to stratford-upon-avon

Bronze plaque:

These figures were designed and modelled by LORD RONALD GOWER, who
presented the Monument to the Town of STRATFORD-UPON-AVON in 1888.
The work was executed in Paris and took twelve years to complete
Associated with LORD ROLAND in his task were his assistant, Monsieur L. MADRASSI;
the Tirm of TASSEL, who made all the figures save that of Hamlet, which was
entrusted to Messieurs GRAUX and MARLEY; and the House of DE CAUVILLE
and PERZINKU, who cast the wreaths, the masks, the fruit and the flowers.
The stone used in this Monument is partly Boxground Bath, partly York. The group
was erected on its original site by MR. FREDERICK TAYLOR, Contractor, under
the supervision of the Architects, Messieurs PEIGNET and MARNAY, of Paris

Statues - Hither & Thither

William Shakespeare - Gower Memorial

Description

Inscription(s)

Signature

Sculptor

Sources & Information

Tags

Locatie (N 52°11'31" - W 1°42'8") (Satellite view: Google Maps)