The Burghers of Calais

You have probably recognised this sculpture by Auguste Rodin as 'The Burghers of Calais' - it does not stand in Calais, as you might think, but in Victoria Tower Gardens, London. Under French law no more than twelve casts of this piece were permitted after Rodin’s death. The London casting, purchased by the British Government in 1911, is one of them. The original statue still stands in Calais.

Completed in 1888. It serves as a monument to an occurrence in 1347 during the Hundred Years' War, when Calais, an important French port on the English Channel, was under siege by the English for over a year.

The story goes that England's Edward III, after a victory in the Battle of Crécy, laid siege to Calais and Philip VI of France ordered the city to hold out at all costs. Philip failed to lift the siege and starvation eventually forced the city to parlay for surrender. Edward offered to spare the people of the city if any six of its top leaders would surrender themselves to him, presumably to be executed. Edward demanded that they walk out almost naked and wearing nooses around their necks and be carrying the keys to the city and castle. One of the wealthiest of the town leaders, Eustache de Saint Pierre, volunteered first and five other burghers soon followed suit and they stripped down to their breeches. Saint Pierre led this envoy of emaciated volunteers to the city gates and it is this moment and this poignant mix of defeat, heroic self-sacrifice and the facing of imminent mortality that Rodin captures in these figures, which are scaled somewhat larger than life.

In history, though the burghers expected to be executed, their lives were spared by the intervention of England's Queen, Philippa of Hainault, who persuaded her husband by saying it would be a bad omen for her unborn child. Wikipedia

Arthur Square Artwork Competition

The Department for Social Development’s Streets Ahead Project has invited a number of internationally renowned artists to submit proposals for an artwork for Arthur Square in Belfast city centre.

Arthur Square is a key location and will be a major point of access to the Victoria Square Development. The artwork will provide the finishing touch to the refurbishment of Arthur Square by creating an iconic structure that will be recognised as special to the revival of the city centre.

The final selection of the Artwork will be decided by public vote, which will run from Monday the 22nd October to Sunday 4th November 2007.

This is your opportunity to have your say. If you have already seen the artworks that have made the final list then go ahead and vote for your favourite artwork online.

Dancing Tree
Phoenix Rising
Spirit of Belfast

Unfortunately there is not an option for - 'none of the above'

Wednesday 24th October 22:52 - I have just read the artists' descriptions: what a load of codswallop!

Suzie the city cat

If you live in Belfast you may have noticed various sculptures which have been installed around the city recently. These have probably been installed by The Forest of Belfast. Now I didn't know we had a forest of Belfast but apparently we do and it was launched in 1992 as an urban forestry initiative to encourage greater awareness of the importance of the city environment. It includes community tree planting, promoting tree care and developing management plans for woodlands. They say that public art has a vital role in increasing public appreciation and enjoyment of landscapes and sites such as parks, woodlands, city streets and gardens.

This is one of their commissioned sculptures by Deborah Brown (who also created the 'Sheep on the road' at the front of the Waterfront Hall) and is located on the Donegall Road at the entrance to an alley opposite Pandora Street. I must say that I really like her sculptures and I just love this one situated in the middle of a busy city street to be admired by (and admire) everybody passing by.

A Visit to Musée d'Orsay

Cool Slideshows!