Equestrian statue of Robert the Bruce in Calgary, Alberta Canada

CountryCanada
Town:Calgary, Alberta
Year of creation:1966
Rider(s):Bruce, Robert the

(1274-1329) better known as Robert the Bruce, freed Scotland from English control. Robert I, Scotland’s greatest king and war-leader has an equestrian statue in Bannockburn in a field, where the warring parties are believed to have camped on the night before the battle. The statue, unveiled in 1960, shows Bruce holding the axe with which he cleft the head of Henry de Bohun on the eve of battle, sending a shiver down the spines of his enemies and filling them with foreboding. The head of Bruce was modeled on measurements of Bruce’s skull following the re-discovery in 1821 of his skeletal remains in Dunfermline Abbey.
Sculptor(s):Pilkington Jackson, Charles

(1887 – 1973) studied design at the Royal Institution, Edinburgh and the new Edinburgh Art College. The work of Carl Milles was an important influence on Pilkington Jackson who visited the Swedish sculptor in 1929. Pilkington Jackson was always meticulous in his research and paid great attention to accuracy. His best-known work and the pinnacle of his career, was The Bruce at Bannockburn (1964).
Source: a text written by his granddaughter, Kirsty Jackson.
Original in:Bannockburn, UK

Description:

Country-Wife:

‘For over twenty years, I have wondered why there is a huge statue of Scottish king Robert the Bruce overlooking downtown Calgary from a perch next to the Jubilee Auditorium. And I was even more puzzled when I learned that it is an exact copy of the statue that is in Scotland at the site of the Battle of Bannockburn. The bronze dedication plaque at the base of this statue, however, holds a vital clue. It notes that the statue was presented to the Province of Alberta by Eric Harvie in 1966, one of Calgary’s own unique historical characters. His gifts to Calgary and Alberta are numerous: he established the Glenbow Museum and Heritage Park, just for starters. He was also very proud of his Scottish heritage; he served as Honorary Colonel of the Calgary Highlanders. When Harvie heard that sculptor Charles D’Orville Pilkington Jackson was creating a large bronze statue of Robert the Bruce for Bannockburn, he arranged for an identical second statue to be made for Calgary. (I’ve seen some indications that he may have also played a role in financing the Bannockburn statue, but nothing definite.)
And so Robert the Bruce now keeps a watchful eye on the city of Calgary, from his perch atop a very high stone and concrete plinth near the Jubilee Auditorium and Alberta College of Art and Design, keeping watch over Harvie’s beloved city. The Scottish monarch and his horse are both wearing full armour. A sheathed sword is slung on the king’s back, but his battle axe is ready in his right hand. He seems thoughtful, as if he’s considering his battle plan. It’s a surprisingly detailed statue; you can see the lion motifs on his shield and on his horse’s armor, if you look carefully. I would have liked to be able to see the detail more closely, but the high plinth means it’s not possible to get very close But on the plus side, it’s also well out of reach of any would-be vandals.
Unlike the Bannockburn statue, which currently has a rich green patina, Calgary’s statue is a dull grey, probably due to significant differences in climate and pollution between the two locations. The Bannockburn statue is currently being restored to its original bronze color.’

Photos by unknown