Statue of Robert Clive, in FCO London

has description | a une description: A marble statue of Robert Clive in hybrid Roman imperial outfit, modelled on Augustus Caesar, the greatest of all Roman emperors. Clive wears a cingulum militare, or a belt with hanging leather and metal straps, and sandals, to show that he is a soldier. However, on his upper body, he wears a toga, to show his concurrent civilian stature. A short straight sword is inexplicably tucked upside down under his right arm , while the left hand makes an oratorial gesture, presenting him as a philosopher. A shield with the head of Medusa is propped near his feet; since looking into Medusa's eyes was meant to turn the viewer to stone, Medusa shields were intended to be ritually protective in Roman iconography.

This statue is therefore a knowledgeable but highly eclectic mix of Roman iconography, which tries to present Clive as a Roman hero, but in a manner that no Roman statue would ever be made. It was one of four marble statues commissioned by the British East India Company in the 1760s, and represented the rising British obsession with Roman-style statuary.
was commissioned by | a été commandé par: British East India Company
funded by | financé par: Private funding (donation/grant)
has current location | a pour localisation actuelle: Whitehall; City of Westminster; London; United Kingdom
has current location type | a le type d'emplacement actuel: indoors

depicts | figure: Clive, Robert
shows visual item | présente l'item visuel: man; sword; colonial administrator
consists of | consiste en: marble
was produced by | a été produit par: Scheemakers, Peter

is referred to by | est référencé par: 'Robert Clive: From Hero to Villain', British Library blog, May 23, 2023; 'Remembering Stringer Lawrence & forgetting Robert Clive', British Library blog, June 15, 2023

Cast in Stone