Bust of Andrew Cunningham

Bust of Andrew Cunningham
ArtistFranta Belsky
Completion date
1967
SubjectAndrew Cunningham
Location

A Bust of Andrew Cunningham, 1st Viscount Cunningham of Hyndhope by Franta Belsky, stands in Trafalgar Square in London.

Background

Andrew Cunningham was an Admiral in the Royal Navy. In his early career he served in the First World War, receiving a Distinguished Service Order. He is perhaps best known though for his aggressive naval strategy during the Second World War, and his role as First Sea Lord from 1943.

History

Following Cunningham's death in 1963, an appeal for the erection of a memorial for Cunningham through public subscription was announced on Trafalgar Day in 1965. By 1966, Franta Belsky was selected to provide the sculpture. Belsky largely used photographic material as a basis for his work, producing a 'realistic study' before his final 'more subjective' design. The final bust is said to contain an empty half pint bottle of Guinness as well as a note from Belsky.

The bust was unveiled on the 2nd of April 1967 by the Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. It joined the busts of John Jellicoe and David Beatty, both First World War admirals whose memorial scheme had been in the square from 1948. The busts were associated with a fountain each, with sculptural groups added as part of the memorials. Cunningham's bust was placed in the northwest corner of the square, although following a 2003 remodelling all three were moved to the eastern section of the north wall. The three memorials were all awarded Grade II* listed status in 1970.

See also

References

  1. ↑ Bradley, Simon; Pevsner, Nikolaus (2003). London. 6: Westminster. Pevsner architectural guides. New Haven, CT: Yale University Press. p. 374. ISBN 978-0-300-09595-1.
  2. 1 2 Matthews, Peter (2012). London's statues and monuments. Shire Library. Oxford; Long Island City, NY: Shire Publications. p. 13. ISBN 978-0-7478-0798-8.
  3. ↑ Baker, Margaret (2002). Discovering London statues and monuments. Discovering series (5. ed., revised and updated ed.). Princes Risborough: Shire Publications. pp. 9–10. ISBN 978-0-7478-0495-6.
  4. 1 2 3 Ward-Jackson, Philip (2011), Public sculpture of historic Westminster. Vol. 1, Public sculpture of Britain (1. publ ed.), Liverpool: Liverpool Univ. Press, pp. 300–303, ISBN 978-1-84631-691-3
  5. ↑ "Bust of Viscount Cunningham of Hyndhope by Franta Belsky". Your Archives. The National Archives. Archived from the original on 24 February 2013. Retrieved 10 October 2011.
  6. ↑ "Fountains and Terrace Walls With Lampstandards, Steps and Stone Bollards Enclosing the Square, Non Civil Parish - 1066235 | Historic England". historicengland.org.uk. Retrieved 25 October 2026.