Shaftesbury Memorial Fountain facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Shaftesbury Memorial Fountain |
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The fountain in 2014
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| Artist | Alfred Gilbert |
| Year | 1885–1893 |
| Type | Fountain, sculpture |
| Medium | Aluminium, bronze |
| Dimensions | 1097 cm × 518 cm (432 in × 204 in) |
| Location | Piccadilly Circus, London, W1 |
| 51°30′35″N 0°08′04″W / 51.50984°N 0.13449°W | |
The Shaftesbury Memorial Fountain is a famous landmark in Piccadilly Circus in London, England. It has a beautiful winged statue on top. Many people call the statue "Eros," but its real name is Anteros.
The fountain was built between 1892 and 1893. It was made to honor a special person named The 7th Earl of Shaftesbury. He was a Victorian politician who worked hard to help people. He was also a philanthropist, which means he gave a lot of his time and money to help others. One of his biggest achievements was helping to stop child labor and make sure children could go to school instead. The fountain is near Shaftesbury Avenue, which is also named after him.
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About the Fountain and Its History
The statue on top of the fountain was created by a sculptor named Alfred Gilbert. When it was first put up, some people thought a nude (naked) figure on a public monument was a bit shocking. However, most people really liked it. One art magazine even said it was much better than other sculptures in the city. They called it "London's most famous work of sculpture."
The statue is special because it was the first sculpture in the world to be made from aluminium. It sits on a bronze fountain. The fountain itself has cool designs inspired by the ocean, which Gilbert also carved on the statue.
Why Anteros, Not Eros?
Even though many people call the statue "Eros," it's actually a statue of Anteros. In Greek stories, Anteros is the brother of Eros. Eros is known as the god of playful or romantic love.
Alfred Gilbert, the sculptor, chose Anteros because he represents "selfless love." This kind of love was a good symbol for the 7th Earl of Shaftesbury, who helped so many people without expecting anything in return. Gilbert explained that Anteros shows "thoughtful and grown-up love," not the playful kind.
Gilbert said he wanted the statue to represent Lord Shaftesbury's work. He imagined Anteros as "blindfolded Love" sending out kindness to everyone, quickly and without stopping, just like a bird flying.
The person who posed for the statue was a 16-year-old boy named Angelo Colarossi. Other people, like Fernando Meacci and George Broad & Son, helped make the fountain.
Unveiling and Early Reactions
The memorial was officially shown to the public on June 29, 1893. After it was unveiled, some people complained. Some thought it was in the wrong part of London, especially because it was in the busy theater area.
To try and make everyone happy, some people suggested calling the statue The Angel of Christian Charity. This name was meant to connect Anteros to Christian ideas of kindness. But this new name never really caught on. Most people continued to call it Eros.
Moving the Fountain Over the Years
The Shaftesbury Memorial Fountain has been moved from its spot in Piccadilly Circus a few times.
In 1922, a new underground train station was being built right underneath the fountain. So, the memorial was taken down and stored in Embankment Gardens. It was brought back to Piccadilly Circus in 1931.
When World War II started in 1939, only the statue was removed for safety. It was kept in Egham and didn't return to Piccadilly Circus until 1948.
The statue was also taken away for repairs in the 1980s. It came back in February 1985. During these repairs, experts found old plaster models that showed the statue had been damaged before. In 1990, the statue was damaged again by vandals and had to be repaired. It returned in 1994. In 2012, a new bow string was put on the statue after a tourist accidentally broke the old one.
In the winter of 2013–14, the statue was covered by a large plastic "snow globe" to protect it from damage. This was meant to happen every year, but strong winds damaged the globe, so it wasn't used again. In the winter of 2014–15, large advertising signs shaped like gift boxes were put around the statue instead, which also helped protect it.
