Statue

Crutched Friars

Erection date: 1985

Inscription

{On the inside of the scroll held by the friar on the left is an inscription that is not intended for easy reading:}
??? the ???????di ntial {Basically, we can't read it. Take a ladder and a torch if you want to have a go.}

Red granite and off-white marble with some bronze. Close examination of this lovely sculpture revealed the secret inscription and a key (a real, modern-day mortice key) hidden on the step below the habit of the friar on the right. We left it there, and it was still there a few months later.

But isn't this sculpture just lovely? The post-modern optical illusion of the steps and the entrance, the asymmetrical bollard and the smoothness of the stone that just makes you want to stroke it. One of our favourites.

Ornamental Passions don't like it as much as we do.

Site: Crutched Friars (1 memorial)

EC3, Crutched Friars, Friary Court

This unusually acceptable post-modern building, designed by Chapman Taylor Partners, was erected by Commercial Union Assurance in 1984-5. 



Comments are provided by Facebook, please ensure you are signed in here to see them

This section lists the subjects commemorated on the memorial on this page:
Crutched Friars

Subjects commemorated i

Friars of the Holy Cross, Crutched Friars

Their odd name is just a corruption of 'Crossed', a reference to the red clot...

Read More

This section lists the subjects who helped to create/erect the memorial on this page:
Crutched Friars

Created by i

Michael Black

Sculptor, based in Oxford  active around 1971 - 85. 2023: We were sorry to r...

Read More

Nearby Memorials

Sigmund Freud statue

Sigmund Freud statue

NW3, Fitzjohn's Avenue, Tavistock Clinic

Nemon sculpted Freud for this statue in 1931 in Vienna and there it was intended to be erected. Both subject and sculptor fled from the N...

1 subject commemorated, 1 creator
V&A façade - Barry

V&A façade - Barry

SW7, Cromwell Road

Excluding the allegories (such as Knowledge) there are 36 statues on the two public façades of the V&A Museum, on Exhibition Road and...

1 subject commemorated, 1 creator
Imperial Hotel - statue 20

Imperial Hotel - statue 20

WC1, Russell Square

On this site there used to be a sister hotel to Hotel Russell, also designed by Charles Fitzroy Doll and erected in 1898. It was demolish...

1 creator
Imperial Hotel - statue 02 - Shakespeare

Imperial Hotel - statue 02 - Shakespeare

WC1, Russell Square

Beard, balding head . . and the stance and outfit are very similar to those of the Scheemakers statue.

1 subject commemorated, 1 creator
Eisenhower statue

Eisenhower statue

W1, Grosvenor Square

Portland stone plinth. Bronze statue. Unveiled by Mrs Thatcher and Charles Price. Note that Eisenhower was raised in Kansas City, hence t...

3 subjects commemorated, 2 creators