Statues on the former Linen Bank, St. Andrew Square Edinburgh.The building itself was designed by th
Statues on the former Linen Bank, St. Andrew Square Edinburgh.
The building itself was designed by the eminent Scottish architect David Bryce and built between 1846-51. The statues are the work of Alexander Handyside Ritchie, a Musselburgh sculptor who had a studio at Mound Place and lived on Princes Street.
Canmore the online catalogue to Scotland’s archaeology, buildings, and industrial and maritime heritage, and part of Historic Environment Scotland/Historic Scotland describe the statues as such;
The bottom of the building is clad in ugly scaffolding just now, hence only the top half captured,
Navigation: female figure with an anchor by her left side and a stick(?) in her right hand.
Commerce: male figure with book in left hand and a large parcel tied with rope by his left foot.
Manufacture: a female figure with spindle(?) in left hand and a distaff in right hand.
Architecture: a female figure with a tablet of stone in her left hand.
Science: bearded male figure with a kind of bolt(?) in his right hand, his left hand holding a parchment on his left hip. At his right foot is an anvil and a hammer.
Agriculture: Female figure with wheat sheaf in right hand and a circle of wheat stalks in her left hand. Around her head are ears of whea0t.
They represent Navigation, Commerce, Manufacture, Science, Art and Agriculture.
And below the statues as;
On a frieze running below the figures are 6 putti. Each putto is directly below each figure and has further attributes:-
Navigation: putto with trident and sea creature.
Commerce: putto with globe and map.
The building housed The Bank of Scotland for some years and is now owned by Gleneagles Hotels and is being converted into a 33-room boutique hotel, called “Gleneagles Townhouse” There will also be a restaurant and bar in the hotel, and a rooftop terrace with views over the square.
Wed, 13 Apr 2022 09:56:09
