Statues - Hither & Thither

Site Search:

Ipswich
Suffolk
East of England

Curson Plain, St. Nicholas Street / Silent Street

Cardinal Thomas Wolsey

Ipswich c. 1471 - Leicester 1530
English statesman
(Wikipedia)

David Annand
2011

Description

Bronze statue of Cardinal Thomas Wolsey sitting on a chair decorated with gothic arches and stretching his right hand, inviting the spectator to share the book held up in his left. His cardinal's robes are spread out uncomfortably in front of him, while his hat hangs over the back of the chair and a cat peers round one of its legs.

Inscription(s)

On the rim around the statue:

thomas wolsey
born ipswich 1470 or 1471 died leicester 1530 cardinal archbishop lord chancellor and teacher
who believed that pleasvre shovld
mingle with stvdy so that the child may think learning an amvsement rather than a toil.

Annotation

The gesture and the inclusion of the book respond to the thinking behind the commission as set out by Dr John Blatchly, a distinguished former headmaster of Ipswich School, responsible for the public appeal: "The statue aims to highlight Wolsey's reputation as a great educator, who was 500 years ahead of his time; one of Wolsey's dreams was to establish a Cardinal College in Ipswich but all that can be seen of his legacy now is Wolsey's Gate and St Peter's Church." Dr Blatchly ended by quoting the passage from Wolsey inscribed around two sides of the base.

Unveiled 29 June 2011.

Sculptor

David Annand, British sculptor, living in Fife. (Website).

Sources & Information

Ipswich Borough Council, Public Art in Ipswich.
Recording Archive for Public Sculpture in Norfolk & Suffolk, database.

Locatie (N 52°3'16" - E 1°9'10") (Satellite view: Google Maps)

Item Code: gbee027; Photograph: 1 August 2012
Of each statue we made photos from various angles and also detail photos of the various texts.
If you want to use photos, please contact us via the contact form (in Dutch, English or German).
© Website and photos: René & Peter van der Krogt

Your banner here? Click for information.