Statue of Thomas Carlyle
As it appeared in 2020
ArtistJoseph Edgar Boehm
MediumBronze and red granite
SubjectThomas Carlyle
LocationLondon, England
Coordinates51°29′00″N 0°10′09″W / 51.4832°N 0.1691°W / 51.4832; -0.1691
Listed Building – Grade II
Official nameStatue of Thomas Carlyle, Embankment Gardens, Chelsea Embankment SW3
Designated15 April 1969
Reference no.1080715[1]

A statue of Thomas Carlyle by Joseph Edgar Boehm stands in Chelsea Embankment Gardens in London. Erected in 1881 and unveiled in 1882, it stands close to 24 Cheyne Row where Carlyle lived for the last 47 years of his life. The statue became a Grade II listed building on 15 April 1969.[1]

History

Production & reception

Boehm had executed a statuette in plaster of Carlyle in April 1874 at the request of Lady Harriet Mary Montagu.[2] Carlyle liked it and decided to sit for Boehm in the beginning of 1875, in order to produce a large marble version which now resides in the National Galleries of Scotland. At the first sitting, Carlyle announced brusquely, "storming in at the door in the guise of one of his own northern gales": "I'll give you twenty-two minutes to make what you can of me."[3][2] When Boehm punctually finished working, Carlyle was delighted enough to give him another twenty-two minutes, subsequently sitting often, writing: "He seems to me by far the cleverest Sculptor or Artist I have ever seen."[4] Boehm also produced a cast of Carlyle's hands[5][6] and a bust.[7] John Tyndall spoke at the unveiling of the bronze in 1882. The marble was presented by Archibald Primrose, 5th Earl of Rosebery in 1916.

Boehm said it was "the best thing I ever did".[8] James Anthony Froude considered it "as satisfactory a likeness in face and figure as could be rendered in sculpture".[9] John Ruskin described it as "a noble piece of portraiture" with "high and harmonious measures in which it seems to me to express the mind and features of my dear Master." He continued:

here is a piece of vital and essential sculpture; the result of sincere skill spent carefully on an object worthy its care; motive and method alike right; no pains spared, and none wasted. And any spectator of sensitiveness will find that, broadly speaking, all the sculpture round seems dead and heavy in comparison, after he has looked long at this.[10]

James Caw later called it "one of the most virile and remarkable of modern portrait-statues."[11]

Replica

Detail of the statue

A replica of the bronze by MacDonald and Creswick, itself a Category B listed building,[12] was given to Ecclefechan, Carlyle's place of birth and burial, by Alexander Carlyle, husband of Mary Carlyle Aitken, the writer's niece, and unveiled on 3 September 1929 by the writer's granddaughter Betty Carlyle in the presence of 7,000 spectators.[13] Sir James Crichton-Browne delivered an address, transcribed in the 11 October 1929 issue of The Advertiser.[14] He referred to Carlyle as not merely "a great master of literature" but "our supreme historian", "an earnest social reformer", and, "in short, a man of genius of the colossal type".

References

  1. 1 2 Historic England. "Statue of Thomas Carlyle, Embankment Gardens, Chelsea Embankment SW3 (1080715)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 3 March 2022.
  2. 1 2 Wilson, David Alec; MacArthur, David Wilson (1934). Carlyle in Old Age (1865–1881). London: Kegan Paul, Trench, Trubner & Co., Ltd. p. 372.
  3. ↑ C. Eaglestone, 'A Memoir of Sir Edgar Boehm', Blackwood's Magazine, CXLIX (1891), 348.
  4. ↑ Dyer, Isaac Watson (1928). A Bibliography of Thomas Carlyle's Writings and Ana. New York: Octagon Books, Inc. (published 1968). p. 535. LCCN 68-15299. OL 5607897M.
  5. ↑ "NPG 1623; Thomas Carlyle – Portrait Extended – National Portrait Gallery". www.npg.org.uk. Retrieved 2 March 2022.
  6. ↑ Museum, Victoria and Albert. "Crossed hands of Thomas Carlyle (1795–1881) | Boehm, Joseph Edgar (Sir) | V&A Explore The Collections". Victoria and Albert Museum: Explore the Collections. Retrieved 2 March 2022.
  7. ↑ "NPG 658; Thomas Carlyle – Portrait Extended – National Portrait Gallery". www.npg.org.uk. Retrieved 2 March 2022.
  8. ↑ ""Thomas Carlyle" by Sir Joseph Edgar Boehm". victorianweb.org. Retrieved 2 March 2022.
  9. ↑ Froude, James Anthony (1884). Thomas Carlyle: A History of his Life in London, 1834–1881. Vol. 2. London: Longmans, Green, and Co. p. 460.
  10. ↑ Ruskin, John (1875). Cook, E. T.; Wedderburn, Alexander (eds.). Academy Notes. Notes on Prout and Hunt. And Other Art Criticisms. 1855–1888 (PDF). The Works of John Ruskin. Vol. XIV. London: George Allen (published 1904). p. 288.
  11. ↑ Dyer. p. 549.
  12. ↑ Stuff, Good. "Statue Of Thomas Carlyle, The Haggs, Ecclefechan, Annandale North, Dumfries and Galloway". britishlistedbuildings.co.uk. Retrieved 2 March 2022.
  13. ↑ "STATUE TO CARLYLE". Macleay Chronicle. 16 October 1929. Retrieved 2 March 2022.
  14. ↑ "CARLYLE STATUE UNVEILED". Advertiser. 11 October 1929. Retrieved 2 March 2022.
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