A Sculpture Trail

After checking in to our digs for the night we took a stroll around Hyde Park, there was soooo much art. Those is just a selection:

Queen Victoria, outside of Kensington Palace:

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Statue_of_Queen…

Wikipedia states that: 'It was sculpted by Victoria's fourth daughter Princess Louise, Duchess of Argyll and erected in 1893.' So nice to have a female sculpted by a female. Apparently, if you don't include royalty only 2.7% of statues in this country are of women!

The Albert Memorial, situated opposite the Albert Hall is a phenomenal piece of work. What stood out to me was the carvings on each corner with animals representing different parts of the world. So much to learn about this piece, this is a good place to start:

https://www.londonremembers.com/memorials/alber…

Across the park I spotted a sculpture and asked "Is that a Henry Moore?", and guess what? It was! 'The Arch.' I can't say I really 'get' his art, but I can spot it.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Arch_1979–1980

Peter Pan.

A famous piece of work by Sir George Frampton. The original statue is displayed in Kensington Gardens in London, to the west of The Long Water, close to Barrie's former home on Bayswater Road. Barrie's stories were inspired in part by the gardens: the statue is at the place where Peter Pan lands in Barrie's 1902 book The Little White Bird after flying out of his nursery. Six other casts made by Frampton have been erected in other places around the world including Sefton Park in Liverpool - one for me to find on a future visit to the North West

Two Bears drinking fountain
The Two Bears fountain was designed by Kenneth Keeble-Smith and the sculpture depicts two small bear-shaped bronze figures mounted on a pedestal, with four stone basins serviced by push button taps.

The fountain was presented by the Metropolitan Drinking Fountain Association in 1939.

In 1967 the original sculpture was stolen by thieves, so a copy was created and replaced in 1970.

The Ladybird Trail

The Ladybird Trail is a short trail of marvellous minibeasts and their habitats.

The walk takes place along the North Flower Walk in Kensington Gardens, starting at the Italian Gardens Café. There are lots of invertebrate-themes sculptures along the way, which you are welcome to play on.

Finally, a few flamboyant fountains including a totally impractical idea that doing archery in the buff might be a good idea!Read more