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Adam Brown · Posted: Sun Nov 30, 2008 4:59 pm Post subject: King Charles II, Edinburgh - fb

King Charles II Monument
Location: East Side, Parliament Square, Royal Mile, Edinburgh.
OS Ref: NT 257 735
Sculptor: Believed to be Dutch sculptor Grinling Gibbons of

The oldest public scuplture in Edinburgh.

Adam Brown · Posted: Mon Dec 01, 2008 10:21 am Post subject:

This monument is in the care of the City of Edinburgh Council. This is what they say about it on their website.

King Charles II Equestrian Statue

The lead equestrian statue of King Charles II is the oldest statue in Edinburgh, and one of the oldest lead statues in Britain. It was erected in 1685 at the expense of the Edinburgh Town Council as a tribute to King Charles II, "formed in the Roman manner, like one of the Caesars"

The statue was reputed to have come from the Netherlands and recent evidence attributes the statue to the workshop of the famous Dutch sculptor and master carver, Grinling Gibbons.

The plinth, in Craigleith sandstone - "ane handsome and fyne pedestill" - was executed by Robert Mylne, the Kings Master Mason in Scotland.

The statue was not completed until a month before his king's death and the plinth was not ready until after his demise in February 1685. The burgh records of Edinburgh report "the King's majesties statu in metall is raddie to be put up in parliament close".

Adam Brown · Posted: Mon Oct 25, 2010 12:20 pm Post subject:

From today's BBC

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-edinburgh-east-fife-11613293

Edinburgh's oldest statue removed for conservation work

Edinburgh's oldest statue has been removed from its plinth in Parliament Square for conservation work.

Cracks have appeared on the 325-year-old Charles II, thought to be the work of the Dutch sculptor Grinling Gibbons.

The monument, which is made of lead, depicts the King of England, Scotland and Ireland as a Roman general.

The lead will be cleaned and missing parts like the sword and scabbard will be replaced, modelled on a similar statue at Windsor Castle.

The work is needed because the statue's internal framework, which is made from oak and mild steel, has deteriorated over time, causing cracks.

After being taken down, the sculpture was due to be transported to Hall Conservation's studio in Rochester, where it will be taken apart and rebuilt, supported by a new internal stainless steel frame.

The piece was completed the year of Charles II's death in 1685. His restoration to the throne in 1660 marked the end of republican rule in England.

Adam Wilkinson, director of Edinburgh World Heritage, said: "The statue of Charles II is utterly beguiling, far from the pomposity of his father's statue in Trafalgar Square in London.

"This is the monarch of a different kind of a nation, following the trauma and upheaval of the Commonwealth, seeking calm authority.

"Statuary is one of the aspects of the World Heritage Site that is easily forgotten, yet which plays an important part in creating the drama of some of our public spaces, in this case Parliament Square behind St Giles."

The conservation work is the latest instalment of the Twelve Monuments Restoration Project, a joint initiative by Edinburgh World Heritage and the city council.

The conservation work is expected to take six months, at a cost of nearly £60,000.

CHARLES II STATUE

The statue cost £2,584 when it was erected in Parliament Close
"Three coats of strong paint" were applied in 1786
The monument was removed in 1824 "in a state of decay" and put in Calton Jail for 11 years.
Charles II was placed on a new plinth of Craigleith stone in 1835
Following repairs In 1952 it underwent another restoration and was placed in Parliament Square
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Scottish War Memorials Project
Scottish War Graves Project