Strolling through Kensington Gardens, it's impossible to miss the imposing structure of theAlbert Memorial.
Today, I'm going to tell you more about this structure.
Albert Memorial : article summary
Albert Memorial: discovering its history
Inaugurated in 1872, 11 years after Prince Albert's death from typhoid in 1861, the Albert Memorial pays tribute to the late Prince Consort.
Its full title is actually Prince Consort National Memorial, but with the exception of a few people, you'll meet blank stares if you call it by that name, so it's Albert Memorial.
Located opposite the Royal Albert Hall, it commemorates the heyday of the Victorian era, embodying the interests and passions of the late prince. while celebrating imperial Britain.
A monument facing the Royal Albert Hall
A statue to Hyde Park to commemorate Albert's work for the Grande Exposition during his lifetime. However, the project never came to fruition.
The memorial took a long time to see the light of day, even though it had been planned almost immediately after Albert's death.
In 1862, the then mayor asked seven leading architects to give their opinion on potential structures. Sir George Gilbert Scott's design, the only Gothic-style proposal, won the project.
There were many delays between the selection of Scott's project and the official opening of the memorial in 1872, mainly due to unforeseen expenses related to the construction of the elaborate memorial.
Albert Memorial: a colossal expense
At the time of its opening, over £120,000 had been spent on the structure, equivalent to £10 million today.
Well-received, it has now been in existence for a century and a half, bringing imposing grandeur to its corner of Kensington Gardens.
A design with unique influences
Perhaps more than any other structure in London, the Albert Memorial presents the best of Victorian Gothic.
But Gilbert Scott's Victorian Gothic style far surpasses the crosses in terms of scale and grandeur.
The statue of Prince Albert
The memorial depicts Prince Albert seated, holding in his hand a catalog of the great exhibition. Albert inspired and helped create the exhibition, which ended up being a great success.
He is seated under a canopy decorated with allegorical figures of the arts, another reference to his enduring passion for artistic expression.
Albert Memorial: the four continents
Perched on each outer corner of the monument's periphery, you'll find marble figures representing four of the continents.
The Americas are represented by a bison, Europe by a bull, Africa by a camel and Asia by an elephant.
The Parnassus frieze
Located at the base of the memorial, the Parnassus Frieze features the figures of renowned artists, including poets, musicians and painters.
Prince Albert was an ardent lover and supporter of the arts, it therefore seemed appropriate to incorporate it into the monument.
Christian virtues and angels
Two tiers of golden angels sit atop the memorial, beneath which are representations of the Christian and moral virtues, also in gold.
It's hard to identify the virtues individually, but collectively, the overall effect is impressive.
Industrial arts
Located in a square inside the monument's periphery, the four statues of industrial arts represent Victorian Britain at the height of its production.
The four, which illustrate agriculture, manufacturing, trade and engineering, are in the immediate vicinity of the prince himself.
Each created by a different sculptor, they had to be aligned with Scott's plan for the memorial.
Albert Memorial: how to get there
The nearest metro stations are :
- Knightsbridge
- South Kensington
- Gloucester Road
- Lancaster Gate
- Queensway
The Albert Memorial is a must-see when visiting London. On site, you'll be able to appreciate the grandeur of Victorian craftsmanship.
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