Equestrian statue of Robert the Bruce, Bannockburn
{{Short description|Statue in Scotland}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox artwork
| title = Equestrian statue of Robert the Bruce
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| image = MK18541 Bannockburn Robert the Bruce.jpg
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| caption = The statue in 2014
| artist = Pilkington Jackson
| year = {{start date|1964}}
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| medium = Bronze sculpture
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| city = Bannockburn
| coordinates = {{coord|56.093812|-3.938562|format=dms|type:landmark_region:GB|display=title,inline}}
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The equestrian statue of Robert the Bruce at the Bannockburn Visitor Centre, Bannockburn, Stirling, is a 1964 work by Pilkington Jackson.
Description
The bronze sculpture depicts Robert the Bruce wielding an axe and on a war horse. The statue stands on a plinth that bears the inscription "ROBERT THE BRUCE
KING OF SCOTS 1306–1329". It is located near the site of the Battle of Bannockburn. The statue is a A listed building.{{Cite web|date=|title= Robert The Bruce Statue, Borestone Brae, Bannockburn |url= https://britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/200397498-robert-the-bruce-statue-borestone-brae-bannockburn-st-ninians#.YOX2ny14Wf0 |url-status=|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=7 July 2021|website=British Listed Buildings}}
History
{{Multiple image
|image1=Robert the Bruce Statue 1.jpg
|caption1=Replica statue in Calgary
|image2=Robert the Bruce statue, Bannockburn - geograph.org.uk - 1538090.jpg
|caption2=Statue pre-restoration, 2008}}
The statue was commissioned by the Earl of Elgin in 1964 to commemorate the 650th anniversary of the Battle of Bannockburn.{{Cite web|date=18 May 2016|title= Robert the Bruce, Bannockburn|url= https://equestrianstatue.org/bruce-robert-the/ |url-status=|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=7 July 2021|website=Equestrian Statues}} It was sculpted by Pilkington Jackson using the measurements of Bruce's skull, re-discovered at Dunfermline Abbey in 1818, and cast in Cheltenham by H.H. Martyn & Co.The Best,HH Martyn and Co, John Whitaker, pp. 118-131 The statue was unveiled by the Queen.{{Cite web|date=7 September 2018|title= A very Canadian sort of hero? Robert the Bruce alias The Outlaw King at the Toronto International Film Festival |url= https://www.broomhallhouse.com/2018/09/a-very-canadian-sort-of-hero-robert-the-bruce/ |url-status=|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=8 July 2021|website=Broomhall}}
In 1966, a replica of the statue was placed outside the Alberta University of the Arts in Calgary, Alberta, Canada.{{Cite web|date=|title= From the archives: Who is Robert the Bruce and why does a statue of him overlook Calgary? |url= https://calgaryherald.com/news/local-news/from-the-archives-who-is-robert-the-bruce-and-why-does-a-statue-of-him-overlook-calgary |url-status=|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=7 July 2021|website=Calgary Herald}}{{Cite web|date=6 April 2016|title= Robert the Bruce, Calgary|url= http://equestrianstatue.org/robert-the-bruce/ |url-status=|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=8 July 2021|website=Equestrian Statues}} The statue was funded by Canadian lawyer Eric Harvie.{{cite web|url=http://www.rbana.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/Bruce-Statue-Calgary-2014.pdf|title=Calgary's statue of Robert the Bruce re-dedicated on the 700th anniversary of Battle of Bannockburn|publisher=Robert Burns Association of British North America|website=www.rbana.org|accessdate=8 July 2021}}{{cite web |last1=White |first1=Ryan |title=Calgary's statue of Robert the Bruce re-dedicated on 700th anniversary of Battle of Bannockburn |url=http://calgary.ctvnews.ca/calgary-s-statue-of-robert-the-bruce-re-dedicated-on-700th-anniversary-of-battle-of-bannockburn-1.1892009 |website=Calgary |access-date=7 July 2021|language=en |date=29 June 2014}}
From 2009 to 2020, the statue featured on the Clydesdale Bank £20 note.*{{Cite web |date= 21 June 2018|title= Fears Robert the Bruce will be removed from banknotes in Clydesdale merger |url= https://www.thenational.scot/news/16303819.fears-robert-bruce-will-removed-banknotes-clydesdale-merger/ |url-status= |archive-url= |archive-date= |access-date= 7 July 2021 |website= The National }}
- {{Cite web |date= |title= £20 World Heritage Series |url= https://www.scotbanks.org.uk/banknotes/clydesdale-bank/clydesdale-bank-20-world-heritage-series.html |url-status= dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20170822134349/https://www.scotbanks.org.uk/banknotes/clydesdale-bank/clydesdale-bank-20-world-heritage-series.html |archive-date= 22 August 2017 |access-date= 8 July 2021 |website= Clydesdale Bank }}
- {{Cite web |date= |title= Clydesdale Bank 20 Pounds Sterling note 2009 Robert the Bruce |url= https://www.worldbanknotescoins.com/2012/02/clydesdale-bank-20-pounds-sterling-note-Robert-Bruce.html |url-status= |archive-url= |archive-date= |access-date= 8 July 2021 |website= World Paper Money Museum }}
In 2013, the statue was restored in preparation for the 700th anniversary of the Battle of Bannockburn in 2014.{{Cite web|date=6 September 2013|title= Robert the Bruce statue returned to Bannockburn battle site |url= https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-tayside-central-23986226 |url-status=|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=7 July 2021|website=BBC News}} The statue which was cast in bronze was slowly turning green.{{Cite web|title= Robert the Bruce to get a face-lift ahead of Battle of Bannockburn celebrations |url= https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/robert-the-bruce-statue-being-restored-1458022 |access-date=11 July 2021|website=Daily Record|date= 26 November 2012 |language=en}} Culture secretary Fiona Hyslop said "The Robert the Bruce statue is an iconic part of the Bannockburn site, and a poignant reminder of the battle".
On 11 June 2020, following the actions against memorials in Great Britain during the George Floyd protests, the statue was defaced with graffiti.{{Cite web|title=Robert the Bruce statue at Bannockburn daubed with Black Lives Matter graffiti|url=https://www.scotsman.com/news/crime/robert-bruce-statue-bannockburn-daubed-black-lives-matter-graffiti-2882737|access-date=7 July 2021|website=www.scotsman.com|date=12 June 2020 |language=en}}{{Cite web|title= Bannockburn Robert the Bruce statue daubed "racist king" in graffiti attack|url= https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/local-news/bannockburn-robert-bruce-statue-daubed-22181026 |access-date=7 July 2021|website=Daily Record|date= 12 June 2020 |language=en}} The Scottish king was branded as a racist, despite not being involved in the slave trade.{{Cite web|title= Why has Robert the Bruce been branded a racist? |url= https://www.scotsman.com/heritage-and-retro/heritage/why-has-robert-bruce-been-branded-racist-2885126 |access-date=7 July 2021|website=www.scotsman.com|date= 15 June 2020 |language=en}} Stirling MP Alyn Smith said “I’ve been vocal in my support of #BlackLivesMatter and hope such counterproductive stupidity is an isolated incident.”{{Cite web|title= Robert the Bruce statue at Bannockburn defaced by 'BLM' graffiti |url= https://www.thenational.scot/news/18513715.robert-bruce-statue-bannockburn-defaced-blm-graffiti/ |access-date=7 July 2021|website=The National|date= 12 June 2020 |language=en}}
See also
References
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{{reflist}}
Category:Equestrian statues in the United Kingdom
Category:Buildings and structures in Stirling (city)
Category:Outdoor sculptures in Scotland
Category:Listed sculptures in Scotland
Category:Category A listed buildings in Stirling (council area)
Category:Vandalized works of art in the United Kingdom
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