William E. Gladstone
Statue of British PM W. Gladstone on Panepistimiou Street.
Modern and Contemporary era (1821 - )
1886 Created.
1895 It was exhibited at Zappeion in the context of the 4th Olympia.
1900 Restored and placed.
Ottoman era (1453- 1821)
Byzantine era (331 AC- 1453)
Roman era (30 BC- 330 AC)
Hellenistic era (322- 31 BC)
Classical era (478-323 BC)
Archaic era (800-479 BC)
Geometric era (-1100- 800 BC)
Prehistory (-1100 BC)
What I can see
The marble statue of the English politician William Gladstone is 2.5m high and is placed on a stepped square pedestal. The sculptor, Georgios Vitalis, rendered him in the posture of an orator, with one leg in projection, simple clothing, with a robe over his shoulders and holding an official document in one hand that probably symbolizes the Treaty of Berlin (1880), through which Thessaly and Arta were annexed in Greece. At his feet, there are two books, which symbolize his love for Greek letters and his work on the Homeric epics. On one side of the base, there are honorary words for Gladstone, as a token of gratitude for his political contribution to the annexation of the new territories.
What I can't see
The University of Athens announced a competition for the statue, in which many distinguished artists participated and in the end, Georgios Vitalis won. The competition’s cost was covered by a fundraiser and Vitalis traveled to England in order to meet Gladstone in person. The sculpture has been vandalized many times and has been listed as an “in situ” monument, as is the case with the rest of the sculptures of the Athenian trilogy. For years, it was in the basements of Zappeion and the university, because of the anti-English climate of the time, due to England’s political support to the Ottoman Empire. Following pressure from the Greek diaspora of England and the then university dean, the sculpture was unveiled a few years later. It was initially proposed to be placed in Zappeion.
Info
- Address: 30 Panepistimiou/ El. Venizelou St.
