Field Visit
Date 25 August 2008
Event ID 613886
Category Recording
Type Field Visit
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/event/613886
Bronze semi-naked figure of David Hume, with drapery over his left shoulder and down his back, over his abdomen and legs, sitting on a low-backed seat. The seat has a cylindrical top (at Hume's waist level) out of each end of which protrudes a mastiff's head with open mouth. The cylinder rests on a three-clawed foot at each end. On the back of the seat is a medallion on which is the head of Helio-Medusa in relief. Issuing from each side of the head are snakes, and from the cheeks and chin extend five pointed rays. [Helios is the god of the sun and here represents the Enlightenment; Medusa turned everything to stone. This head therefore represents enlightenment twined round with philistinism.] Hume holds the top of a tablet in his right hand. The bottom of the tablet rests on his right knee. His left elbow rests on the cylinder top of the seat. He holds onto his drapery with his left hand. His left foot rests on a block. The statue is placed on a stone pedestal composed of blocks.
To mark its sixtieth anniversary, the Saltire Society organised a competition to produce a statue of David Hume. The Society requested a classical statue, which Stoddart interpreted as meaning a statue 'al'antica'. One inspiration was James Tassie's portrait medallion profile of Hume, where Hume was depicted with a bare left shoulder and drapery over his right.
David Hume (1711-1776)
Inscriptions : On front of pedestal (incised letters): HUME
On bronze plaque on back of pedestal (raised letters):
1711 DAVID HUME 1776 / PHILOSOPHER AND HISTORIAN : SCOT AND EUROPEAN : MAN OF THE ENLIGHTENMENT / This statue was commissioned by The Saltire Society to mark its Sixtieth Anniversary and unveiled as part of / The City of Edinburgh's Redevelopment of the Royal Mile on 30th November 1997 / by Professor Sir Stewart Sutherland FBA FRSE / Principal and Vice-Chancellor of the Universuty of Edinburgh.
Erected with the generous help of / Bank of Scotland, to mark its Tercentenary, / Scottish Arts Council National Lottery Fund. / The Faculty of Advocates, for which Hume was Keeper of the Library, 1752-1757 / The Esmee Fairbairn Charitable Trust / and Trusts, Corporate and Individual Sponsors, and Supporters in many countries.
SCOTLAND / SALTIRE / SOCIETY [logo on left of text]
BANK OF SCOTLAND / 1695 / 1995 / TERCENTENARY / 300 YEARS OF / BANKING SERVICE [logo on right of text]
THE SCOTTISH ARTS COUNCIL / National Lottery Fund [logo below text]
Alexander Stoddart, Sculptor Cast by Powderhall Bronze
Signatures : None Visible
Design period : 1995-1997
Year of unveiling : 1997
Unveiling details : 30 November 1997. Unveiled by Professor Sir Stewart Sutherland.
Information from Public Monuments and Sculpture Association (PMSA Work Ref : EDIN1466)
