Statue of Edward VI (Scheemakers) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Statue of Edward VI (Scheemakers) |
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| Artist | Peter Scheemakers |
| Completion date | 1737 |
| Type | Sculpture |
| Medium | Bronze |
| Subject | Edward VI |
| Location | London |
| 51°29′57″N 0°07′10″W / 51.4992°N 0.1195°W | |
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Listed Building – Grade II*
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| Official name | Bronze Statue of Edward VI |
| Designated | 30 May 1979 |
| Reference no. | 1080372 |
This is a statue of Edward VI created by the artist Peter Scheemakers. You can find it at St Thomas' Hospital in Lambeth, London. This hospital actually has two statues of King Edward VI. Both statues celebrate how King Edward VI helped to re-open the hospital in 1551. This particular statue was moved to its current spot inside the North Wing of the hospital in the 20th century. In 1979, the sculpture was officially recognized as a Grade II* listed structure, which means it's an important historical building or monument.
Who Was Edward VI?
Edward VI was the son of King Henry VIII and his third wife, Jane Seymour. He was born on October 12, 1537. Edward became king when he was only nine years old, in 1547, after his father died. Sadly, he never reached adulthood, passing away at the young age of 15 in 1553.
During a big historical change called the Protestant Reformation, many religious places, including St Thomas' Hospital, lost their money and land. Because of this, the hospital had to close in 1540. But in 1551, King Edward VI signed a special document, called a charter, which allowed the hospital to open its doors again.
About St Thomas' Hospital
St Thomas' Hospital started a very long time ago, in the 12th century. It began as a place for sick people connected to the Church of St Mary Overie in Southwark. By the late 1600s, the hospital buildings were in very bad shape.
A man named Sir Robert Clayton hired an architect, Thomas Cartwright, to completely rebuild the hospital. The new buildings were made of red brick and had a classic style. They were finished in 1709, just after Sir Robert Clayton died. Later, in 1872, the hospital was completely rebuilt again. This time, it moved to a new location further along the River Thames in Lambeth. The statue of Edward VI was moved to this new site and has been placed in different spots since then.
The Statue and Its Creator
The sculptor, Peter Scheemakers, came from a family of artists who made sculptures. He was from a region called Flanders, and both his father and his two sons also worked as sculptors. Peter Scheemakers came to London sometime before 1720. He became famous for his bust (a sculpture of someone's head and shoulders) of William Shakespeare in Westminster Abbey, which he made in 1740.
His statue of Edward VI was made before the Shakespeare bust. It is made of Bronze and shows the king wearing clothes from his time period. An inscription on the base of the statue tells us that Charles Toye Esq., who was the Treasurer of the hospital, paid for the sculpture. As mentioned before, this sculpture was given a special Grade II* listed status in 1979, recognizing its historical and artistic importance.
