Field Visit
Date 1 February 2001
Event ID 613984
Category Recording
Type Field Visit
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/event/613984
A series of nine bronze rectangular reliefs on the curving pillars in the outer ring around the central Drum entrance, five inside and four outside:
Inside: (1) Law. A long rectangular bronze relief of two reclining male figures, bare-chested with loose drapery around their thighs, poring over a pile of law books, with their heads together. The figure on the left wears a turban, the end of it snaking down his back. The background is plain, with an inscription on a scroll at the far left.
(2) The Stage I. Two half-figures in close-up, back to back. On the right is a nude female, her left arm held high, and her head and arms cropped. On the left is a nude male bending over an open script held in his left hand.
(3) The Stage II. Two seated figures in close up. On the right a nude female, facing left, crouches on a chair; on the left a nude seated male wearing a headdress, gestures with his left hand and turns his head back towards the woman, while his torso faces left.
(4) Surgery. A male body lies prone, the viewer looking down on it. The arms are tight by the body's sides and feet are splayed.A selection of seven surgical instruments are spaced around the body: a saw, pincers, knives etc.
(5) Medicine. The centaur bends from left, over a reclining male, propped up on his right arm and receiving a plant from the centaur. Under the centaur's extended right arm is a pestle and mortar. Both figures are cropped in close-up.
Outside: (6) Paper-making. Two half-figures are back to back in the centre; the figure on the right turning a vertical lathe (?) and looking back to the centre over his right shoulder. The figure on the left looks down at a rectangular tray he holds in both hands over a vat. A millwheel is at the left edge.
(7) Printing. Two half-figures wearing aprons face right. The figure on the left holds open a large hand press with his right arm, and takes from it a sheet of paper with his left hand. The figure on the right bends over, his hair forward, with a buffing mallet (?) in his right hand and holding a lever in his left hand. To the right of him is the long angled handle of a printing press.
(8) Brewing. Two half-figures wearing aprons are back to back. The figure on the left lifts a barrel; behind is a cartwheel. The figure on the right stands in front of a long round-ended trough, and wields a mashing (?) paddle; behind are stalks of barley.
(9) Economics. A curvaceous female nude half-figure, seen from behind, shakes hands with a male figure at the right, across a sailing ship behind. At the left is an imposing building.
Inscriptions : On scroll at far left of Law relief (raised letters):
AN ORIGINAL AMALGAM OF ROMAN LAW, / FEUDAL LAW AND NATIVE CUSTOMARY LAW, / SYSTEMMATISED BY RESORT TO THE LAW / OF NATURE AND THE BIBLE, AND / ILLUMINATED BY MANY FLASHES. // LORD COOPER 1949 / SPEAKING ON THE / INSTITUTIONS OF THE / LAW OF SCOTLAND / BY LORD STAIR / 1881
On spines of two closed books at the centre of the Law relief (raised letters):
INSTITUTIONS OF THE / LAW OF SCOTLAND
VISCOUNT STAIR
Along bottom of The Stage I relief (raised letters):
WHILE IN ALL POINTS WITH OTHER LANDS SHE VIED, THE STAGE ALONE TO SCOTLAND / WAS DENIED. MISTAKEN ZEAL IN TIMES OF DARKNESS BRED O'ER THE BEST MINDS / ITS GLOOMY VAPOUR SPREAD, TASTE AND RELIGION WERE SUPPOS'D AT STRIFE
At bottom right corner of The Stage II relief (raised letters):
AND 'TWAS A SIN TO VIEW THE GLASS OF LIFE! / THIS NIGHT LOV'D GEORGE'S FREE ENLIGHTENED AGE / BIDS ROYAL FAVOUR SHIELD THE SCOTTISH STAGE / HIS ROYAL FAVOUR EV'RY BOSOM CHEERS, THE / DRAMA NOW WITH DIGNITY APPEARS. / JAMES BOSWELL 1767
At top left of Surgery relief (raised letters):
TIS THE CHIRURGEONS PRAISE / AND HEIGHT OF ART NOT TO / CUT OFF BUT CURE THE / VICIOUS PART / ROBERT HERRICK 1648
At bottom left of Surgery relief (raised letters):
ROYAL COLLEGE OF SURGEONS EDINBURGH EST. 1505
At top right corner of Medicine relief (raised letters):
THE BOY ASKLEPIOS WHO BECAME THE GOD OF / MEDICINE WAS SNATCHED BY APOLLO FROM HIS / DEAD MOTHERS WOMB GIVEN TO THE CENTAUR / CHEIRON WHO RAISED HIM AND TAUGHT HIM THE / SECRETS OF MEDICINAL HERBS / ROYAL COLLEGE OF PHYSICIANS / EDINBURGH EST. 1631
On scroll at top, towards left, of Paper-making relief (raised letters):
I PRAISE THE MAN THAT / FIRST DID PAPER MAKE / THE ONELY THING THAT / SETS ALL VIRTUES FORTH
On scroll at top right of Paper-making relief (raised letters):
THEN HE THAT MADE / FOR US A PAPER MILL / IS WORTHY WELL OF / LOVE AND WORLDES / GOODWILL / THOMAS / CHURCHYARD / 1588
On vertical rectangular sheet at right of Printing relief (raised letters):
HE WHO FIRST SHORTENED / THE LABOUR OF COPYISTS BY / DEVICE OF MOVABLE TYPES / WAS DISBANDING HIRED / ARMIES. AND CASHIERING / MOST KINGS AND SENATES. / AND CREATING A WHOLE NEW / DEMOCRATIC WORLD / HE HAD INVENTED THE ART / OF PRINTING. / THOMAS CARLYLE / 1801-1881
Along bottom of Brewing relief (raised letters):
O'DOWIE'S ALE THOU ART THE THING, THAT GARS US CRACK THAT GARS US SING
At top left corner of Economics relief (raised letters):
NOBODY EVER SAW A DOG MAKE A FAIR AND DELIBERATE / EXCHANGE OF ONE BONE FOR ANOTHER WITH ANOTHER / DOG. NOBODY EVER SAW ONE ANIMAL BY ITS GESTURES / AND NATURAL CRIES SIGNIFY TO ANOTHER, THIS / IS MINE, THAT YOURS I AM WILLING TO GIVE / THIS FOR THAT / ADAM SMITH / THE WEALTH OF NATIONS / 1770
Design period : 1990-1991
Year of unveiling : 1991
Unveiling details : 7 October 1991
Information from Public Monuments and Sculpture Association (PMSA Work Ref : EDIN1550)
