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Equestrian Statue of William III

The equestrian statue of William III by John Bacon Junior stands in St James's Square in central London. It was modelled on an earlier statue of the king by John Michael Rysbrack in Queen Square, Bristol. Funding for the London monument was provided in the 1724 will of Samuel Travers, M.P., though the project did not move forward for about seventy years. A design was prepared in 1794 by John Bacon Senior, but the commission later passed to Bacon Junior, under whose direction the statue was finally erected in 1808. The statue is a Grade I listed structure.

William III equestrian statue on a stone pedestal in St James\'s Square, with bare branches and buildings behind it.
The William III equestrian statue stands on a stone pedestal in St James\'s Square, London.
January 2010 © · CC BY-SA 3.0
William III equestrian statue on a light-colored pedestal in a grassy park, with trees and buildings behind it.
The William III equestrian statue stands on a pedestal in a grassy park framed by bare trees and nearby buildings.
April 2018 © · CC BY-SA 4.0
William III equestrian statue on a stone pedestal in a sunny park with trees and city buildings behind it.
The William III equestrian statue stands on a pedestal in a green park, with London buildings in the background.
April 2009 © · CC BY-SA 3.0
William III equestrian statue on a tall pedestal in a green park, with buildings in the background.
William III equestrian statue in St James\'s Square, set among trees and gardens.
April 2008 © · CC BY-SA 2.0
Close-up of the tail detail on the William III equestrian statue, seen against a bright sky.
Close-up of the bronze tail detail on the William III equestrian statue in St James’s Square.
January 2010 © · CC BY 2.0

Identification

Titleequestrian statue of William III
SubjectWilliam III of Orange-Nassau
Typeequestrian statue

Creator

SculptorJohn Bacon Junior
Design prepared byJohn Bacon Senior

Historical context

First proposal date1697
Revival attempts1710 and 1721
Bequest date1724
Purpose of bequestto fund the construction of an equestrian statue in brass to the glorious memory of William III
Historical contextThe statue was planned after William III's reign and many decades after the first proposal

Discovery and provenance

Commission date1794
Erected1808
Commission transferred toJohn Bacon Junior
Commission statusJohn Bacon Senior's design was not executed
Modelled onthe earlier equestrian statue of William III by John Michael Rysbrack in Queen Square, Bristol
Alternative proposed locationCheapside Conduit
Original proposed locationSt James's Square
Bequest donor roleMember of Parliament and Crown official
Bequest donorSamuel Travers

Physical characteristics

Materialbronze
Original settingin the middle of an octagonal pool
Later alteration to settingthe pool was drained in the 19th century

Appearance

Inscription 2I. BACON, IVNR. SCVLPTR. 1807
Inscription 1GVLIELMVS III
HairstyleDespite the Classical dress, William's hairstyle follows late 17th-century fashion
Plinth inscriptionsPanels on either side of the plinth carry inscriptions in bronze lettering
Horse depictionWilliam is depicted astride a spirited horse
Depiction styleWilliam is shown in the style of a Roman general

Iconography and meaning

Dedicationto the glorious memory of William III
Base interpretationJo Darke suggests that the base includes a depiction of the molehill over which William's horse Sorrel stumbled at Hampton Court, leading to the king's death from complications of pneumonia

Location and ownership

Current locationcentre of St James's Square, London
Listed statusGrade I listed structure
Listing date1958
Listed structure typebuilding and structure

Other

Grade I meaningthe highest grading given to buildings and structures of exceptional interest