Statue of the 1st Marquess of Westminster, Belgravia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Statue of the 1st Marquess of Westminster, Belgravia |
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The sculpture in 2012
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| Artist | Jonathan Wylder |
| Location | London, SW1 United Kingdom |
The statue of the 1st Marquess of Westminster is an outdoor sculpture in London, England. It shows Robert Grosvenor, 1st Marquess of Westminster, who was an important person in developing the land around it. This area is known as the Grosvenor estate.
The artist, Jonathan Wylder, created the statue. It stands at the corner of Wilton and Grosvenor Crescents in Belgravia. Gerald Grosvenor, 6th Duke of Westminster asked for the statue to be made in 1998.
Contents
Who Was the 1st Marquess of Westminster?
Robert Grosvenor's Role
Robert Grosvenor, 1st Marquess of Westminster (1767–1845) was a British nobleman and politician. A "Marquess" is a high rank in the British peerage, just below a Duke. He inherited a large amount of land in London. This land was mostly fields and marshland at the time.
Robert Grosvenor played a key role in turning this land into the fancy neighborhoods we see today. These areas include Belgravia and Mayfair. He helped plan and build many of the grand houses and squares. This made the Grosvenor family very wealthy and important.
What Does the Statue Look Like?
Special Features and Symbols
The statue shows Robert Grosvenor. It also includes two Talbot dogs. These dogs are a special breed that used to be common in England. They are also part of the Grosvenor family's coat of arms. A coat of arms is like a family symbol or badge.
Below the dogs, you can see the Grosvenor family's motto. A motto is a short phrase that expresses a family's beliefs. Their motto is Virtus non stemma. This Latin phrase means 'Valour not Garland'. 'Valour' means great courage, especially in battle. 'Garland' here refers to a crown or symbol of noble birth. So, the motto means that courage and good deeds are more important than just being born into a noble family.
A Famous Quote
Underneath the motto, there is a quote from John Ruskin. He was a famous English writer and art critic. The quote says:
When we build, let us think we build for ever.
This quote suggests that when we create something, especially buildings, we should think about how long it will last. We should build things that are strong and beautiful enough to be around for a very long time. This idea fits well with Robert Grosvenor's work in building lasting neighborhoods in London.
