CHANTREY ON HIS EQUESTRIAN STATUE OF WELLINGTON CHANTREY (Sir Francis Legatt, 1781-1841, Sculptor)

Pair of Autograph Letters Signed to Thomas SPRING RICE (1790-1866, Chancellor of the Exchequer, 1835-1839, from 1839 1st Baron Monteagle), saying he "shall be happy to wait upon you" with "a statement of the Gun Metal" and to ask how he may reply "to the City of London Wellington Committee" (28th November 1838, endorsed "C of E saw party 29/11/38"), in the second he explains that he "refrained from acknowledging the donation of fifteen hundred & twenty pounds worth of Gun Metal for the City of London Wellington Statue" till he had met and told "the acting committee ... not only the amount of the gift, but the very ready and handsome manner in which it had been made", at "the Mansion House yesterday ... all were at a loss in what manner it would be most agreeable to you they should reply to the generosity of the Government", so Chantrey is asking whether a letter of thanks to Spring Rice as Chancellor of the Exchequer "would be a fitting manner of acknowledging ... the substantial way in which their efforts have been assisted by Her Majesty's Ministers", 1 side 8vo and 1 side 4to, Belgrave Place & Eccleston Street, London, 28th November - 26th January

The gun metal was from cannon captured during Wellington's victories, in particular Waterloo.
The equestrian statue, with its fine modelling of the Duke's face and of his charger 'Copenhagen', was planned for 18th June 1843, but unveiled a year later on what is now the forecourt of the Royal Exchange. Several buildings including the Sun Office were removed as part of the improvements. Chantrey was selected by a small majority, it is believed, over Matthew Cotes Wyatt. Subscriptions from Wyatt's supporters continued and in 1846 his colossal statue, 30 feet tall, was placed on the arch at Hyde Park Corner, but, being out of proportion, was removed in 1885 to Aldershot. (The present statue at Hyde Park Corner is by Sir Edgar Boehm, 1888).
See The Times for 25th February 1839, and, for an interesting letter comparing the cost of the two projects, 15th June 1843.

Item Date:  1839

Stock No:  56564      £375

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