View of statue of Hercules by John Cheere 1743. Blair Castle, walled garden.

Description View of statue of Hercules by John Cheere 1743. Blair Castle, walled garden.

Date 1973

Catalogue Number SC 767222

Category On-line Digital Images

Copy of PT 4409

Scope and Content Statue of 'Hercules', Hercules Garden, Blair Castle, Perth & Kinross This shows a lead statue of Hercules made in 1743 by sculptor John Cheere (1709-87). It stands in the same position in the 'Hercules Wilderness' at the end of 'The Long Walk' as it was placed in on 4th July 1743. Classical-style statuary like this example were placed in the landscaped grounds of most large estates, and served to suggest the taste and wealth of the landowner. The statue is based upon the 3rd-century AD 'Farnese Hercules', by the Athenian sculptor and copyist Glycon (who copied it from the original work by Lysippus of the 5th century BC). The hero is shown resting on his club, which is draped with the pelt of a lion. Blair Castle, the seat of the Dukes of Atholl, was begun in 1269, extended in the 15th and 16th centuries, and remodelled to resemble a Georgian mansion by architect James Winter in the mid-1700s. The south-east wing was built in 1743-5, and rebuilt to include a clock-tower to designs by architect Archibald Elliot in 1814 after a fire. The castle was 're-baronialised' to designs by architect David Bryce in 1869-71, who also designed the ballroom (1826-7). It was modified again in 1886 (J C Walker), 1904-5 (J McIntyre Henry) and 1920-1 (Sir Robert Lorimer). Source: RCAHMS contribution to SCRAN.

Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/collection/767222

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