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The first ever aluminium prototype? Eros statue in London’s Piccadilly Circs maybe just that!

 

A beloved landmark in London’s Piccadilly Circus, “Eros” was the first landmark of its’ type to be cast in aluminium, the original aluminium prototype !

The Eros Statue, also known as the Shaftesbury Memorial Fountain, is a famous landmark in London’s Piccadilly Circus. Learn about the captivating history of this iconic statue, which has stood in the heart of the city for over a century.

Alfred Gilbert

The Eros Statue was created by artist Alfred Gilbert in the late 19th century (1892/3). Gilbert was commissioned to design a memorial fountain in honour of the philanthropist Lord Shaftesbury, who was known for his work in improving the lives of London’s poor. Gilbert’s design featured a winged figure of Eros, the Greek god of love, standing on top of a globe and holding a bow.

A First for Aluminium

The statue was cast in aluminium, which was a relatively new material at the time, and was unveiled in 1893 to great acclaim. Today, Eros remains one of London’s most iconic landmarks and a testament to Gilbert’s artistic vision.

Contrary to popular knowledge, Eros is actually a statue of Anteros, the god of “selfless” love and not the god of “erotic” love, his brother, Eros. The base is made of bronze which would have been a very traditional material for sculpture of its time although the statue itself is cast in aluminium.

A Costly Exercise!

Alfred Gilbert was paid around £3,000 (£348,000 in todays money) for producing the aluminium prototype statue but it cost him closer to £7,000 (£812,000) to make. This was mostly due to the costly copper base.

Creating “Eros” left Gilbert in bad debt, to the extent that he had to flee to mainland Europe to escape his creditors! Gilbert was forced to file for bankruptcy in 1901 and he sent his family to Bruges in Belgium where he lived for over 20 years, returning to England in 1926.

A Change of Location

The Eros Statue was originally located in the courtyard of the Shaftesbury Memorial Fountain in Piccadilly Circus. However, in the 1920s, the fountain was deemed a traffic hazard and was removed.

The statue was temporarily relocated to a storage facility before being placed on a plinth in the centre of Piccadilly Circus in 1931. Since then, it has become a beloved symbol of London and a popular meeting spot for locals and tourists alike.

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