Equestrian statue of Charles II

Category

Museums & Galleries Item

Item no

11553

Title

Equestrian statue of Charles II by Grinling Gibbons, Parliament Square, Edinburgh

Description

A double black and white photograph of the statue of Charles II on horseback outside St Giles Cathedral in Parliament Square.

Artist / maker

Begbie, Thomas

Date

1887

Size

8.3 x 17.1 cm

Type

Glass negative

Location

City Art Centre

Copyright

The Cavaye Collection of Thomas Begbie Prints ; The City of Edinburgh Council Museums & Galleries

A statue of Charles II on horseback stands in Parliament Square. It was erected in 1685.

Parliament Square in Edinburgh is situated immediately to the north of the former Parliament House, now home to the Court of Justiciary and the Court of Session. It was formed along with Parliament House around 1640 on the kirkyard of St Giles. This burial ground, which largely fell out of use in the mid sixteenth century, is the resting place of the prominent religious reformer John Knox. The appearance of the buildings surrounding the square was substantially altered in the 19th century by the addition of frontages designed by Robert Reid.

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Related subjects

Architecture > Monuments > Statues

Places > Edinburgh areas > Old Town

Places > Scotland > Edinburgh

Religion > Religious facilities > Cathedrals

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