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Virtues - Leisure

Erection date: 25/11/1952

Inscription

{On the tablet:} E=mc2

Oddly, in this water-side scene, T. S. Eliot is not sitting in the elaborate classically-styled seat; rather he seems to be crouched behind, with a pipe in his right hand, studying Einstein's Theory of Relativity. In front of him a seated woman raises a towel to welcome a naked girl emerging from the water, who has also been noticed by Nessie, swimming in the same lake, which we now know is Loch Ness.

Site: National Gallery - Anrep mosaics - Virtues (15 memorials)

WC2, Trafalgar Square, National Gallery - Staircase Hall - North Vestibule

See National Gallery - Anrep mosaics - Muses for general information about these mosaic floors.

The 1954 'Modern Virtues' is in a style very different from that of the earlier 'Muses' floor, with scenes depicted inside frames which carry each scene’s title. These panels appear to be laid on a mosaic floor with a geometric pattern, on which autumnal leaves have fallen – trompe l'oeil in mosaic.

This 'Modern Virtues' floor was gifted (which we take to mean funded) by Maud Russell and opened on 25 November 1952.

To avoid database clutter we have put the Creator links on just the page for the Anrep panel.

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This section lists the subjects commemorated on the memorial on this page:
Virtues - Leisure

Subjects commemorated i

T. S. Eliot

Poet and publisher. Born Saint Louis, Missouri as Thomas Stearns Eliot. His w...

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This section lists the other memorials at the same location as the memorial on this page:
Virtues - Leisure

Also at this site i

Virtues - Anrep

Virtues - Anrep

Carved at the top of the gravestone is a portrait of Anrep himself. The image...

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Virtues - Compassion

Virtues - Compassion

Anna Akhmatova, looking towards Anrep's gravestone (in another panel) and sur...

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Virtues - Compromise

Virtues - Compromise

We initially thought this odd scene may refer to one of Loretta Young's films...

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Virtues - Curiosity

Virtues - Curiosity

Lord Rutherford wears a coronet - he had been raised to the peerage in 1931. ...

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Virtues - Defiance

Virtues - Defiance

In front of the white cliffs of Dover Winston Churchill, in his signature sir...

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Nearby Memorials

Muses - Erato

Muses - Erato

WC2, Trafalgar Square, National Gallery - Staircase Hall - Half-way Landing

Mary Hutchinson as Erato the muse of lyric poetry. Note the owl behind her.

1 subject commemorated
Westmister weather vanes whirleth

Westmister weather vanes whirleth

SW1, St Margaret Street, Henry VII Chapel / Lady Chapel

We've tried a zoomed-in photograph one of the vanes but the name of the donor was not visible and, call us feeble, but our dedication to ...

1 subject commemorated, 2 creators
St Marks, Kennington - history

St Marks, Kennington - history

SW9, Clapham Road, St Marks Church

The 1745 Association (who ought to know) writes: "The plaque on the side of the church says it was twenty-one but that may not be quite a...

19 subjects commemorated
Dr John Snow - site of pump

Dr John Snow - site of pump

W1, Broadwick Street

When we first published this c.2009, the pump was on the north-east corner of the Broadwick Street / Poland Street junction. 2018: London...

3 subjects commemorated
Soane's Tomb

Soane's Tomb

NW1, Pancras Road, St Pancras Gardens

This beautiful and sombre monument incorporates Soane's favourite emblems of Creativity and Eternity, the pineapple and ouroboros (a serp...

2 subjects commemorated, 1 creator