Cooper had commissioned his favourite sculptor, Albert Hodge, to create massive symbolic figures for the PLA building. He had created sketch models of three groups including this monumental figure of Father Thames when he suddenly died in 1917, at the age of just 42. His assistant Charles Doman executed Hodge's designs and added two of his own.
Father Thames has a truly memorable flowing beard and is something of a body-builder ('muscles like penny rolls' as R.L. Stevenson put it). He stands on an anchor and holds a trident, his free hand pointing downriver towards the sea.
2 comments:
Ooh, I love that building... I read about its history a few years ago; apparently the rotunda was destroyed in the Second World War and was replaced by a modern office extension that couldn't be more different from the rest of the building (I've seen pictures). It's supposed to be replaced in turn by a glass atrium of some sort, as part of the building's conversion into a luxury hotel.
As far as the "seemingly eternal yet actually new" quality is concerned, it's much more widespread than most people seem to believe. I've done some interesting reading recently; have you heard of the term "invention of tradition"?
Great photos as always, thanks Chris. I thought RL Stevenson died in the 1890s though? Or do you not mean Robert Louis?
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