Royal Equestrienne
SIR,—Though he admits that the British have developed " a seemingly pathological distrust of statuary," Strix would be glad to see a " likeness " of Her Majesty seated on the bay gelding Winston in the Horse Guards Parade, if the project could be realised " without undue controversy." Can he really think that possible: has he forgotten the long-drawn-Out controversy about the Haig statue ? He would be a bold sculptor indifferent to hostile criticism who for a public com- mission would venture to undertake an equestrian statue today. It is to be " a likeness " of the Queen, which implies a degree of realism—certainly it must be an easily recognisable portrait to satisfy the need—but where is the sculptor to draw the line ? Should Her Majesty's costume be " generalised," according to Sir Joshua's pre- cepts, or should it be faithfully reproduced ? Then, if the costume is realistic, the horse can scarcely be stylised, and we have cause to know how unsatisfactory, and highly controversial, attempts at realism in equine sculpture are liable to be. Our two most famous sculptors, Messrs. Epstein and Moore, would seem to be disquhlified: neither might be expected to turn out a horse which would pass muster when set up as a target for criticism in such a centre of orthodoxy as the Horse Guards Parade. If " we used to produce good statues once," how many equestrian examples of even moderate distinction have we produced ? Leaving the " Haig " aside, Matthew Wyatt's "George III" is probably the last; for one can scarcely claim Baron Marochetti's " Richard Coeur de Lion " as our production even allow- ing that it passes the test. The empty centre of the Horse Guards Parade is a site of which only a truly memorable equestrian statue would be worthy. So though Strix's idea is superficially attractive, that an equestrian statue of Her Majesty could be produced which would both satisfy his public demands and "add elegance to our capital" is surely open to serious doubt.—Yours faithfully, Suffolk House, Chiswick Mall, W.4.
RALPH EDWARDS.
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