Melville Monument in the Redeveloped St Andrew Sq

Category

Library Item

Item no

17727

Title

Melville Monument in the redeveloped St Andrew Square, Edinburgh

Description

A view of a park in St Andrew Square with the Melville Monument dominating the cloudy skyline to the right. A statue of a figure stands on top of the column which sits on a square shaped base. There are people sitting on the grass. The park is landscaped with trees, flowers and pathways. Foliage from a tree casts a shadow in the foreground of the picture. Buildings on George Street leading away from the park can be seen in the distance including the tower of a St Andrew's and St George's Church.

Artist / maker

MacLean, Kevin

Date

2008

Type

Digital image

St Andrew Square is located at the west end of George Street. It is home to the head office of the Royal Bank of Scotland. The Melville Monument, built in memory of Henry Dundas, stands in its centre. Edinburgh's main bus terminus is located on its east side.

The Melville Monument, St Andrew Square, was erected between 1820 and 1823 to the memory of Henry Dundas, the 1st Viscount Melville, who died in 1811. The monument comprises an imposing Roman column almost 42 metres in height, crowned by a statue of Dundas. The column itself was designed by William Burn, who received advice on its foundations from Robert Stevenson following concerns expressed by local residents as to its stability. The statue is by the sculptor Robert Forrest from a model by the English sculptor Francis Legatt Chantrey. It was only commissioned when construction of the monument was well underway, and was not added until 1827-28.

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Related subjects

Architecture > Monuments > Memorial monuments

Places > Scotland > Edinburgh

Sport and leisure > Sports and recreation facilities > Parks

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