Statue of William Shakespeare, Leicester Square facts for kids
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A special statue of William Shakespeare stands proudly in the middle of Leicester Square Gardens in London. This statue has been there since 1874. It was made by an Italian sculptor named Giovanni Fontana, who copied an older statue by Peter Scheemakers.
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The Shakespeare Statue in Leicester Square
What Does It Look Like?
The statue is made of white marble. It looks just like the famous monument to Shakespeare found in Poets' Corner inside Westminster Abbey. The statue stands on a tall base, and there are two dolphin sculptures on either side of it. The whole thing is part of a fountain, with water flowing around it.
Shakespeare holds a scroll in his hand. On this scroll, you can read a famous line from his play Twelfth Night: "THERE IS NO DARKNESS BUT IGNORANCE." This means that the only real darkness is not knowing things. The original statue in Westminster Abbey has a slightly different quote, but this one is clear and inspiring.
The statue in Leicester Square is a bit simpler than the one in Westminster Abbey. It doesn't have small pictures of kings and queens like Henry V, Richard III, or Elizabeth I on its base.
A Special Gift to London
The gardens in Leicester Square got a big makeover in 1874. A wealthy businessman named Albert Grant bought the Square that year. He paid for it to be redesigned by an architect named James Knowles. The Shakespeare statue became the main feature of these new gardens.
The base of the statue has a message carved into it. It explains that Albert Grant bought and decorated the gardens. He then gave them to the Metropolitan Board of Works on July 2, 1874. This was so the gardens could "be preserved for ever for the free use and enjoyment of the public." This means he wanted everyone to be able to visit and enjoy the gardens for free, forever.
Keeping the Statue Beautiful
This statue is very important, so it is officially "listed at Grade II." This means it's recognized as a building or object that is historically special and needs to be protected.
In 2012, the statue was cleaned and restored by Tom Brown and his team. They made sure it looked its best. Then, in 2014, new water features were added around the statue, making the fountain even more beautiful.
Images for kids
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The original memorial in Poets' Corner, Westminster Abbey, which the Leicester Square statue is based on.
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The Leicester Square statue in 2007, before it was cleaned and restored.
