Statue of the Duke of Bedford
| Francis Russell, 5th Duke of Bedford | |
|---|---|
| Map | |
| Artist | Richard Westmacott |
| Completion date | 1809 |
| Subject | Francis Russell, 5th Duke of Bedford |
| Location | London |
| Coordinates | 51°31′16′′N 0°07′31′′W / 51.5212°N 0.1254°W / 51.5212; -0.1254 |
Listed Building – Grade II | |
Official name | Statue of Francis Russell 5TH Duke of Bedford |
| Designated | 24 October 1951 |
| Reference no. | 1246153 |
A statue of Francis Russell, 5th Duke of Bedford, by Sir Richard Westmacott stands at the southern end of Russell Square in Bloomsbury, London. Erected in 1809, it is a Grade II listed building.[1]
Background
[edit ]The Duke was an agriculturist and landowner from the Russell family after whom the square was named. He was a Whig politician, as was his uncle Charles James Fox whose statue in Bloomsbury Square by the same sculptor, erected seven years later, faces the Duke's statue across Bedford Place.[2]
The 5th Duke of Bedford was also known for his work in agriculture; he was a founding member of the Board of Agriculture and first president of the Smithfield Club.[3] He was committed to experimentation with agricultural techniques, and under him his country seat at Woburn Abbey became a centre for agricultural meetings.[4]
Description
[edit ]The statue shows the Duke in Roman attire. It also alludes to his great interest in agriculture, showing him with a plough and farm animals which surround the plinth, together with four cherubs representing each of the four seasons.[5]
References
[edit ]- ^ "Statue of Francis Russell 5Th Duke of Bedford, Non Civil Parish – 1246153 | Historic England". historicengland.org.uk. Retrieved 2 April 2026.
- ^ Blackwood, John; Irwin, Caroline, eds. (1989). London's Immortals: The Complete Outdoor Commemorative Statues (1 ed.). London: Savoy Press. p. 173. ISBN 978-0-9514296-0-0.
- ^ Matthews, Peter (2012). London's Statues and Monuments. Shire library. Oxford; Long Island City, New York: Shire Publications. pp. 177–178. ISBN 978-0-7478-0798-8.
- ^ Blackwood, John; Irwin, Caroline, eds. (1989). London's Immortals: The Complete Outdoor Commemorative Statues (1. publ ed.). London: Savoy Press. pp. 148–151. ISBN 978-0-9514296-0-0.
- ^ Baker, Margaret (2002). Discovering London Statues and Monuments. Discovering series (5th ed., revised and updated ed.). Princes Risborough: Shire Publications. p. 95. ISBN 978-0-7478-0495-6.
External links
[edit ]- Wikimedia Commons logo Media related to Statue of Francis Russell, 5th Duke of Bedford (London) at Wikimedia Commons
