Tuesday, February 12, 2013

Politics In Sculpture

I've always been fascinated by this sculpture which is in Queen's Park beside the main legislature building of the Government of Ontario. It looks religious to me but its inscription tells you that it was done in memory of William Lyon MacKenzie who was the first mayor of Toronto (1834) and also a member of Parliament. The piece commemorates "the struggle for responsible government in Upper Canada and the pioneers of a political system which unites in free association the nations of the British Commonwealth". The bronze and granite piece was done in 1940 by artist Walter Seymour Allward who did many of the commemorative sculptures around town.

10 comments:

Lowell said...

I'm curious to know why this looks religious to you because I can't quite make out its features. It looks like a very nice sculpture. And I certainly like what it commemorates!

Deb said...

A very worthy piece of civic statuary, glad you gave the explanation as I would have been none the wiser for seeing it!

Jack said...

Hmmmm. I tried to figure out what is going on but couldn't. It is a dramatic work, though.

PerthDailyPhoto said...

I like the 'dramatic' feel to this sculpture Pat , intense.

Sharon said...

A very impressive piece. I can see a struggle.

Randy said...

That is very beautiful.

Anonymous said...

It does seem to portray a sense of motion, struggling against some form of unseen force. Dynamic sculpture.

ArtandArchitecture-SF.com said...

What a gorgeous piece, truly very emotional, looks like a book in her hand?

EG CameraGirl said...

Responsible government? Isn't that an oxymoron? :))

William Kendall said...

A worthy sculpture. I'll have to check it out when next I pass through town. I can't recall it from the odd time I've been there.