Monday 1 August 2016

Equestrian Statue of George I at Stowe

 
 
The Equestrian Statue of George I.
slightly over life size.
Wearing Modern Armour and Holding a Baton. 
at Stowe House, Buckinghamshire.
By John van Nost II.
 
Set up at Stowe in 1723.
 
Recently restored by Rupert Harris to correct the restorations of 1957 and 1972
 
I will be visiting Rupert Harris at the beginning of November in order glean more information and hopefully more detailed photographs.
Watch this space!
 
John van Nost II was very busy with several equestrian statues during this period. All based on the same prototype which appears to be derived from Le Seuers equestrian statue of Charles I at Charing Cross. 
 
1722 - George I - Bronze  - Modern Armour - John van Nost II - originally set up on the Essex Bridge, Dublin, now at the Barber Institute. Birmingham.
 
1722 - George I - Lead - Roman Armour, Hackwood Park. John van Nost II. Survives
1723 - George I - Lead - Modern Armour  - Stowe House  - John van Nost II.

1728 - George I - Lead - Modern Armour - originally set up at Canons House, Edgware, for the Duke of Chandos and later sold, removed and set up in Leicester Square in 1747 -  - John van Nost II.
 
The plinth bears the inscription -
"In medio mihi Ceaser erit
et viridi in campo signum de marmore ponam"
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
For the conservation of the equestrian statue at Stowe see -
 
 
 
 
Jaques Rigaud (1681 - 1754)
View from the Portico from the House to the Park at Stowe
Pen and Wash
37.3 x 53.5 cms.
Metropolitan Museum, New York.
 
 
Plate 6: view of the south facade, with, in the foreground, people strolling in the park, next to an equestrian statue standing on the l.  1739 Etching
 
View of Stowe House from the Parterre.
358 x 508 mm.
 
Lettered with production detail: 'Rigaud & Baron del. et sculp.', 
 'Publish'd by S. Bridgeman May 12. 1739',
and title in English and in French. 
 
British Museum.
 
 
 
 Pub. Robt Sayer after the engraving below.
 
 
 
 Engraving by George Bickham after Chatelain
 
__________________________________________
 
 
 
 
 
 
Illustration from Benton Seeley. Stowe: a description of the Magnificent House and Gardens (London, 1769). 

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