Diana Fountain, Green Park facts for kids
The Diana Fountain, also known as Diana of the Treetops, is a beautiful fountain and statue in Green Park, central London. It features a statue of Diana, a goddess from ancient Roman myths. The famous sculptor Estcourt J Clack created this artwork.
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The Diana Fountain: A Special London Landmark
What is the Diana Fountain?
This lovely fountain and statue are found in Green Park. This park is in the City of Westminster, a busy part of central London. The statue shows Diana, who was known as the goddess of the hunt, the moon, and nature. She is often shown with animals, like deer or dogs.
A Special Gift to London
The Diana Fountain was a gift to London from something called the Constance Fund. This fund was started by an artist named Sigismund Goetze. He wanted to give sculptures to London's parks to remember his wife, Constance. Sigismund passed away in 1939. After his death, his wife, Constance Goetze, managed the fund until she passed away in 1951. She helped create many sculptures in his memory.
In 1950, the Ministry of Works, a government department, asked Constance if the fund could help replace an old, broken fountain in Green Park. The fund agreed to help.
Choosing the Artist
To find the best design, a competition was held. Six talented sculptors took part. Sir William Reed Dick, a famous sculptor himself, helped the fund choose the winner.
In October 1951, it was announced that Estcourt J Clack had won the competition. He was a teacher at a school called Blundell's School in Devon. The statue was officially given to Sir David Eccles, who was the Minister of Works at the time. This happened on June 30, 1952. Constance's niece, Countess May Cippico, presented the statue on behalf of the fund.
Where is it Now?
From 1952 until 2011, the Diana Fountain stood in the middle of Green Park. It was placed exactly where the older, broken fountain used to be.
In 2011, the statue was moved. It was carefully cleaned and restored. Some parts of it were even given a golden finish. Now, the Diana Fountain is the main feature of a new entrance to the park. This entrance makes it easy for people to get into Green Park directly from the Green Park Underground station.
