“Eros (second casting),” by Sir Alfred Gilbert

Eros

Sir Alfred Gilbert

Unveiled 1932; replica figure installed, 2008

Aluminium, with stainlesss steel armature, on the original bronze fountain base

Sefton Park, Liverpool

Other Views and Related Material

Eros (detail)

Original 1893 version in Piccadilly Circus, London (1)

Original 1893 version in Piccadilly Circus, London (2)

Original 1893 version in Piccadilly Circus, London (3)

Photograph, caption and commentary by Jacqueline Banerjee, 2009.

[You may use this image without prior permission for any scholarly or educational purpose as long as you (1) credit the photographer and (2) link your document to this URL.]

A second casting in aluminium of the famous Piccadilly Circus fountain was commissioned by George Audley, and unveiled in 1932. According to Gilbert himself, the figure above the Shaftesbury Memorial Fountain is not that of Eros, but of his twin Anteros, "the god of selfless, philanthropic love" (Cavanagh 195). Terry Cavanagh writes: "Gilbert has here taken full advantage of the lightness and tensile strength of aluminium — such an extreme displacement of the figure's centre of gravity could not have been sustained” by one slender ankle had bronze been used" (195). The figure was modelled” by one of Gilbert's young studio assistants, Angelo Colorossi, who was also used” by other artists of Gilbert's time.

The first casting of Eros was controversial, both because of its subject and its material: it seemed an unsuitable memorial to the great reformer (see "Eros"), and it was the first time for aluminium to be used in Britain for an important public monument like this. Evidently, the controversy had blown over” by Audley's time. Instead of faring better than the original in its lovely natural setting, the second casting suffered more from vandalism and neglect. The bronze base has now been restored, and a replica figure fitted, the two being having been reunited in the park in the autumn of 2008 (for the news item and video clip on this, see offsite here. The original second casting, gleaming after having been cleaned and repaired, is now on display at Liverpool's unique National Conservation Centre.

Bibliography

Bowman, Robert. Craft and Creation — 2005. London: Robert Bowman Gallery, 2005, pp. 74-75.

Cavanagh, Terry. Public Sculpture of Liverpool. Liverpool: Liverpool University Press, 1997.

Dorment, Richard. Alfred Gilbert. New Haven and London: 1985.

Gibson to Gilbert: British Sculpture 1840-1914. Exhibition catalogue. London: The Fine Art Society, 1992. No. 28.

"Eros" (Liverpool Museums site). Viewed 10 February 2009.

Last modified 10 February 2009