An equestrian statue of the Duke of Wellington stands prominently on Threadneedle Street in London, serving as a nod to the city’s storied past. During my recent visit, as is often the case, I found myself wandering through the streets, captivated by my surroundings. On a warm afternoon, I set my sights on Leadenhall Street, keen to discover the site that once housed the headquarters of the East India Company. Although the original building was demolished in the 19th century, a Lloyd’s Bank edifice now occupies the site, a stark reminder of the city’s evolution over time.
As I ventured further, I arrived at the Bank of England and glanced upwards to behold the striking statue of the Duke of Wellington. This statue instantly reminded me of the Thomas Munro statue in Chennai, both sharing a remarkably similar pedestal and equestrian pose. Erected in 1844, Wellington’s statue was crafted by the renowned sculptor Francis Chantrey, who also created Munro’s statue, as well as King George IV’s statue at Trafalgar Square. Notably, these three statues represent Chantrey’s only forays into equestrian sculpture, as he was reportedly uncomfortable depicting animals.
Interestingly, it is speculated that Chantrey sourced the same horse model for all three statues from the king’s stables, leading to a visual likeness among them. However, public perception has deemed the Munro horse as the least impressive among the trio. Beyond their shared equestrian roots, all three figures exhibit similar postures and notably lack stirrups. While tales circulate in Madras suggesting that this was a sculptor’s error resulting in tragic consequences for Chantrey, records show that the absence of stirrups was a deliberate choice, intended as a tribute to the equestrian skills of each individual.
Creating Munro’s statue posed a challenge for Chantrey as he had only a half-length portrait by Martin Shee to reference. To accurately capture Munro’s likeness, Chantrey enlisted the help of Munro’s friends and family, including the Duke of Wellington, whose future statue adorned Threadneedle Street. The approval of such a prominent figure was crucial for the final design.
Chantrey meticulously crafted these statues over time. The commission for Munro began in 1828 and spanned a decade, while the statues for the king and Wellington were completed in 1843 and 1844, respectively. However, it was Munro’s statue that had the most extensive journey, arriving in Chennai in three segments-Munro, the horse, and the granite pedestal-in September 1838. The pedestal was prepared by the firm of Ostheider’s in Chennai, where the unveiling of the statue occurred on October 28, 1839, marked by a grand ceremony and a seventeen-gun salute.
Francis Cunningham, the apprentice who accompanied the statue, transitioned into a notable administrative figure, with Cunningham Road in Bengaluru named in his honor. The narrative of these statues intertwines the histories of Chennai and London, highlighting issues of legacy and memory in colonial contexts. Sriram V. is a writer and historian who explores such intersections of history, reminding us of the stories etched in stone.
Original Source: https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/chennai/twins-to-chennais-munro-statue/article69731264.ece
Category : Chennai
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Publish Date: 2025-06-25 06:00:00
