B/W print; The south side of the eastern end of the Strand by Somerset House, taken in 1923 by Topical Press, Aug 1923
Main details
| Reference number | 1999/20191 |
|---|---|
| Description | The south side of the eastern end of the Strand by Somerset House, taken in 1923. The image shows a three-quarter view of the front of Somerset House and some of the shop premises either side. Pedestrians are passing in the street and some automobiles can be seen in the road. |
| Photographer | |
| Dates | Aug 1923 |
| Collection | |
| Object type |
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| Photograph number | U1865 |
| Location | |
| Topics | |
| Completeness | 73% |
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Physical description
Item content Attribute Value Text Building: Ridgways Steamship Ticket Agents
P&O ... Canadian Pacific ... Etc. Cunard ... Etc.
Goldsmith & Co. Saddlers No 151Building: The Rich Man's Office
Passport Photos in One Hour Films Developed & Printed QuicklySign: Instone Air Line Booking OfficeSign: The Open Court Co The American Book Supply CoSign: Bensons TailorsShop: Aerated Bread Company (ABC)Annotation THE STRAND: THE SOUTH SIDE OF THE EASTERN END, BY SOMERSET HOUSE, 1923.
Photograph (taken August, 1923) by Topical Press. UnD. copyright.
"MAINTAINED BY HIS MAJESTY'S OFFICE OF WORKS." A NOTE ON THE GROUP BY BACON IN THE COURTYARD OF SOMERSET HOUSE.
The L.C.C. RETURN OF OUTDOOR MEMORIALS IN LONDON gives the following: GEORGE III., in the quadrangle of Somerset House. Bronze statuary group upon stone pedestal. A colossal figure of Neptune, or Father Thames, reclines, with arm on an urn; at his back is a cornucopia, and behind that again, at a higher plane, is George III., in Roman garb, leaning on a rudder with lion couchant on one side and a prow of a Roman vessel on the other. Sculptor: John Bacon. Erected in 1780. maintained by H. M. Office of Works.
There are two points in the above notice that require a little supplementation. GEORGE III., the statue is generally described as such by virtually all writers, even Malcolm and others of the early XVIIITH Century (when George III. was living). It would seem, however, from a close examination of the statue, that the chief figure does not represent George III., but is symbolical of Commerce; the appurtenances of the ship's prow, Father Thames, etc., support this; while, moreover, the statue might be that of a woman. But, waiving these considerations, we will accept the George III. thesis; and turn to the manner in which his Majesty's Office of Works maintained the statue of the present king's ancestor. With an eye to economy, maybe; if with no regard for art, and respect for sovereignty, they converted the plinth of the statue into a - URINAL. The statue stands in the courtyard of a state building that was at one time a palace. Comment on the action of H. M. O. W. were superfluous - even the Bolshevists of Russia would have had some regard for public decency though none for memorials of sovereignty.
Through action taken by the present writer the urinal was removed in December of last year, Sir Aston Webb, who was approached in the matter, being responsible for this. This little improvement is touched upon here merely to indicate how much the very ordinary Man in the Street can do to effect improvements with respect to the London statues by a little initiative. Whether our memorials be good, bad, or indifferent as works of art, the majority of them are generally made infinitely worse by thoughtlessness on the part of the authorities.Design Attribute Value Shot Medium exterior -
People involved
Role Person(s) involved Photographer Topical Press, Aug 1923Copied by Colin Tait, 1980 -
Associated companies, people and places
Places Location Strand, Westminster, WC2People Attribute Value People Charles White -