Detail of fountain Digital image of E 15299 CN

Description Detail of fountain Digital image of E 15299 CN

Date 18/6/2001

Collection Records of the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland (RCAHMS), Edinbu

Catalogue Number SC 769193

Category On-line Digital Images

Copy of E 15299 CN

Scope and Content Chamois Statue and Fountain on West Parterre, Balmoral Estate, Aberdeenshire This charming late 19th-century statue of a chamois, by the Berlin sculptor, M Geiss, forms the centrepiece of the west formal garden or parterre designed c.1856 by Prince Albert. The chamois, a life-size and life-like representation of the agile mountain goat native to Europe and Asia, is possibly in zinc, and stands on solid granite base with lion masques, arranged around the sides, which spout water into a circular stone basin below. Geiss produced life-size statues, mainly in zinc, that were designed to ornament the great gardens throughout Britain. He copied original works as well as producing statues of animals, mythical beasts and domestic pets. His work was displayed at the Great Exhibition in 1851, an exhibition attended by Prince Albert, and it is possible that as a result this statue may have been commissioned for Balmoral. The Balmoral estate was bought in 1852 by Prince Albert and Queen Victoria at their own expense as a Highland retreat from the stresses of London life. Prince Albert initiated many improvements, including the building of a new holiday home, Balmoral Castle, in 1853-5, and put forward plans for a model estate with new houses and offices for estate workers and tenants. He also supervised the laying out of the grounds, including the construction of a sunken garden and formal gardens to the east and west of the castle. Source: RCAHMS contribution to SCRAN.

Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/collection/769193

File Format (TIF) Tagged Image File Format bitmap