The Guards' New Memorial
SEEN from Whitehall the new monument on the Horseguards' Parade looks like one of the treasures of London ; and gratitude goes out to whoever had the idea of placing it there, exactly opposite the arch where the mounted sentries stand, of such height that from the street it is seen just filling the arch—and, in this season, exquisitely relieved against the faded green of autumn foliage. So seen, the five figures (one for each regiment) on the front show a slight variation in height, curving from the centre, and the whole series has a rhythm, while the spaces between them look like columns of a balustrade.
It will be seen so by hundreds for every one who views it closer ; and so much the better ; for, nearer, it does not satisfy. Sympathy is due to the artist who had, presumably by order, to keep his figures all of one size ; but, one would like to hear a sergeant-major of the Guards on that sort of crazy parade, where the centre man of five is firmly planted on both feet, while the two on his left advance the left foot, and the two on his right the right. Also, in order to break the monotony of pattern, each man holds his rifle with a different grasp, and the hands are at varying height. That is not how Guards stand on parade—not even when they stand at case. The sergeant-major would probably have preferred that all should be, say, presenting arms, and should have that absolute uniformity which every sergeant-major of the Guards aspires to produce. Would it have been impossible to give this uniformity and yet make a work of art ? As it is, the sculptor has varied slightly the poise of the figures—as even the figures of guardsmen on parade must vary—but has given to all the same features. This was not necessary. Fades, non omnibus una, Nec diversa tamen, qualem decet esse of Guardsmen, might have been his motto.
The obverse panel, facing the park, showing men stripped to the shirt in violent action, with guns, owes much to the inspiration of Mr. Jaggers (look at his monument to the Royal Artillery at Hyde Park Corner) ; and it gains by this. The monument as a whole in its design is well enough to the level of the men's heads ; but the truncated cone, recalling the Lutycns cenotaph, has no merit ; and the trick of giving its line a slight outward curve adds to the dumpiness. To have slightly hollowed the curves might have lightened the whole.
Once more, it should be noted that the best works of art will never be got as the result of a competition and award. Still, Mr. Ledward has won the privilege of being honourably associated with a great memory. His work of art is not as good as the Guards deserved. But, then, everyone who soldiered in the War, old regular or war- time levy, whether he loved the precision which the Brigade stood for or hated it, knows in his heart that for what the Guards were and did no monument could be good enough.
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