William Henry Playfair (1790–1857)
William Henry Playfair (1790–1857)
William Henry Playfair (1790–1857)
William Henry Playfair (1790–1857)
William Henry Playfair (1790–1857)
William Henry Playfair (1790–1857)
William Henry Playfair (1790–1857)
William Henry Playfair (1790–1857)
William Henry Playfair (1790–1857)
William Henry Playfair (1790–1857)

© the artist. Image credit: Gordon Baird / Art UK

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Notes

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The subject is shown as a young architect in the early stages of his career. He leans casually on the capital of a Doric column, his pockets filled with drawing instruments, and with a bulky portfolio of designs tucked under his arm. His costume is that of an early nineteenth-century Edinburgh gentleman. He wears an unbuttoned cutaway coat, a double-breasted waistcoat, a bow tie knotted under a stand-up collar, trousers (supported at the sides by concealed braces that allow part of the shirt to protrude at the waist), and buckled shoes.
Title

William Henry Playfair (1790–1857)

Date

2016

Medium

bronze & red Lazonby sandstone

Measurements

H 330 x W (?) x D (?) cm;
Plinth: H 420 x W 290 x D 290 cm

Accession number

EH1_GB_S002

Acquisition method

commissioned by donations

Work type

Statue

Custodian

City of Edinburgh Council

Work status

extant

Unveiling date

1st September 2016

Access

at all times

Signature/marks description

bottom left of Hypnos panel: STODDART PAISLEY 2016; on underside of neck of John Playfair medallion: A STODDART / PAISLEY 16; on underside of neck of William Playfair medallion: A STODDART PAISLEY 16

Inscription description

incised on front face of pedestal: PLAYFAIR; plaque on rear of pedestal: THIS STATUE OF THE ARCHITECT / WILLIAM HENRY PLAYFAIR / 1790-1857 / WAS ERECTED BY / JAMES AND AMANDA GARDEN . KENNETH AND JULIA GREIG / BRUCE AND CAROLINE MINTO . WALTER AND NORMA NIMMO / MALCOLM OFFORD . DAVID AND JUDY SHAW / DAVID AND TERRI WARNOCK / NATIONAL MUSEUMS OF SCOTLAND / THE UNIVERSITY OF EDINBURGH / THE EDINBURGH SCHOOL OF SURGERY / MAIN DONORS / 2016 / ALEXANDER STODDART, SCULPTOR, PAISLEY / BLACK ISLE BRONZE, FOUNDERS, NAIRN; incised above signature on John Playfair medallion: JOHN PLAYFAIR; incised above signature on William Playfair medallion: WM. PLAYFAIR

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Located at

Chambers Street, Edinburgh

EH1 1JF

Outside the National Museum on Chambers Street.