Equestrian statue of George IV, Trafalgar Square facts for kids
Quick facts for kids George IV |
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The statue in 2013
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| Artist | Sir Francis Leggatt Chantrey |
| Year | 1843 (unveiled) |
| Type | Equestrian statue |
| Medium | Bronze |
| Location | Trafalgar Square, London WC2 |
| 51°30′30″N 0°07′39″W / 51.50838°N 0.12759°W | |
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Listed Building – Grade II
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| Official name | Statue of George IV |
| Designated | 5 February 1970 |
| Reference no. | 1275350 |
The statue of George IV in Trafalgar Square, London, is a large bronze statue of a king riding a horse. It was made by Sir Francis Legatt Chantrey. The statue shows King George IV dressed in clothes like those worn in ancient Rome. He is riding the horse without a saddle, which is called bareback. This sculpture was first planned to be on top of the Marble Arch near Buckingham Palace. But after the King died, it was placed in Trafalgar Square instead.
History of the Statue
Sir Francis Leggatt Chantrey first designed this statue to stand on top of the Marble Arch. This arch was meant to be the entrance to Buckingham Palace. The architect John Nash worked on the palace design. Later, Edward Blore took over the work. He changed the plans to save money. His new design removed Chantrey's statue from the arch.
King George IV himself paid for the statue. It was not paid for by money collected from the public. The statue was cast, or shaped from metal, in 1828.
Where the Statue Ended Up
George IV died in 1830. The statue was then placed on an empty base in Trafalgar Square in December 1843. People thought it would only be there for a short time. However, it has stayed there ever since.
The statue was put up without much celebration. A newspaper called The Times said it was "somewhat suddenly erected." It was the first statue placed on one of the pedestals in the square. These pedestals were put in place three years earlier. The architect, Charles Barry, expected them to hold groups of statues. An inscription was added to the statue later in the 19th century. This was because people no longer knew who the statue was of.
Modern Views on the Statue
In 2005, a journalist named Janice Turner wondered why a statue of George IV was needed in Trafalgar Square. In response, Lord Baker of Dorking argued that the king still deserved the statue. He said this was because of his important work in planning London's towns.
In 2012, a hat designer named Stephen Jones created crowns for both George IV and his horse. These crowns were added to the statue. This was part of an art project called "Hatwalk." The project was supported by the Mayor of London. In this project, 21 hat designers created new hats for famous statues around London.
See also
In Spanish: Estatua ecuestre de Jorge IV (Trafalgar Square) para niños
