Statue of George Canning, Parliament Square

The statue of George Canning in Parliament Square, Westminster, London, is an 1832 work by Sir Richard Westmacott.

Statue of George Canning
The statue in 2015
Artist	Richard Westmacott
Year	1832 (1832)
Medium	Bronze sculpture
Coordinates	51°30′04″N 0°07′40″W

Description and history

The 3.56 metres (11.7 ft) bronze sculpture depicts George Canning (British Prime Minister during 1827) larger than life size, swathed in a long robe and a cloak, holding a scroll in his left hand, similar to a classical statue of an orator from Ancient Rome, although his legs are covered with modern trousers and he has laced shoes on his feet. The statue stands on a 4.4 metres (14 ft) granite plinth which bears the inscription "GEORGE CANNING".

The statue was first erected near St Margaret's, Westminster, overlooking Old Palace Yard. It was unveiled there on 2 May 1832, five years after Canning's death in office aged 57 in August 1827. The statue was said to be a good likeness, and was based on a bust made by Francis Chantrey for his memorial at Westminster Abbey.

The statue was moved to Parliament Square in 1867, becoming the first statue in the new square as it was laid out. It stands outside 12 Great George Street, the home of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, in an area now known as Canning Green. The statue became a Grade II listed building in 1970.

During assembly in 1831 the statue fell from a hoist resulting in the death of assistant sculptor Vincent Gahagan.

See also

• 1832 in art

References

• Statue: George Canning statue, London Remembers
• Statue of George Canning, National Heritage List for England, Historic England

External links

• Statue of George Canning – Parliament Square, London, UK at Waymarking
• Parliament Square statues