To Arthur Duke of Wellington
and his brave companions in arms
this statue of Achilles
cast from cannon taken in the victories
of Salamanca, Vittoria, Toulouse, and Waterloo
is inscribed
by their country women
Description:
An 18ft bronze statue of Achilles, the Greek hero of the Trojan War, carrying a sword and shield with his armour beside him. It stands on a plinth of Dartmoor granite.
Location:
Near Hyde Park Corner, between the Broad Walk and Lovers’ Walk.
History\background:
Dedicated to the Duke of Wellington and his victories in the Peninsular War and later stages of the Napoleonic Wars and installed by order of King George III. Modelled on a Roman soldier but the head is said to be based on that of Wellington.
Designer:
Richard Westmacott.
Dates:
Sculpted 1822. Inaugurated 18th June 1822.
Maintenance\care:
The Royal Parks.
Interesting facts:
The cost of £10,000 was donated by British women. The bronze came from cannons captured in military campaigns by the Duke of Wellington at Salamanca, Vittoria, Toulouse and Waterloo. This was London’s first public nude statue since antiquity and despite its fig leaf it was still controversial. The entrance gates to Hyde Park were too low to get it through and a hole had to be knocked in the adjoining wall.