Leeds Town Hall 1858

Leeds Town Hall 1858

This is a classically inspired design of standing queen, quite different from the seated Victorias of later years. Not only is she younger and slimmer here, but the trappings with which she's surrounded are relatively sparse. This statue was constructed before the great expansion of the empire at the end of the century and positioning of Victoria as a globe-dominating empress (it would have been under construction during the Indian rebellion of 1857), so it's a rare glimpse at a Victoria who has not yet been burdened with the ideological trappings of empire.

Matthew Noble

September 4, 1858

Mark Doyle

Image of Statue: © 2003 Leeds City Council

Newspaper Account: "Statue of Queen Victoria in the Leeds Townhall." Illustrated London News [London, England] 11 Sept. 1858: 247. Illustrated London News. Web. 6 Nov. 2019.

Statue Essay: Mark Doyle

Carrara Marble 8' 6"

Statue

Victoria Statue Leeds Town Hall