Cast in Stone

has description | a une description

This large bronze statue depicts Robert Clive in military uniform, atop a massive plinth. In the manner of classical Greek architecture, the undulating structure of the plinth prevents the viewer from focussing and draws attention instead to the principal figure, who looks away into the the distance with a grim expression. The figure wears well-worn boots, indicating battle experience, while the prominent stripes on the sleeves indicate achievement and rank. In one hand, the figure holds a curved Indo-Islamic ceremonial sword or talwar, signalling the conquest of India, while the other hand clutches rolled up papers, possibly underlining the legal title to possessions won by the sword.

In front, the plinth merely describes the person depicted as 'Clive', indicating his self-explanatory eminence. Contradicting this, the three other sides of the plinth display narrative friezes in bas-relief, showcasing Clive's military and political achievements in India: at Arcot, Plassey and Allahabad. The Allahabad scene depicts Clive receiving the Grant of Diwani, mistitled as the Grant of Bengal, from the defeated Mughal emperor. In the bas-relief of this scene, based on Benjamin West's 1818 painting , the Mughal emperor fades into the background while Clive and his British companions are carved prominently, to emphasize their centrality to the story.

was commissioned by | a été commandé par

Lord Clive Memorial Committee

managed by | dirigé par

English Heritage

protected by | protégé par

Historic England Checklist to Help Local Authorities Deal With Contested Heritage Decisions, 2021

Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022

Guidance for custodians on how to deal with commemorative heritage assets that have become contested, 2023

has current location | a pour localisation actuelle

Whitehall

London Borough of Westminster

has dimension (height (cm)) | a pour dimension (hauteur (cm))

2,900

was discussed by | a été contesté par

1907, William Forwood writes to The Times lamenting the lack of a memorial to Clive

1912, Perceval Landon praises Tweed for his Clive statue

1994, Performance of Siraj ud-daula play at the Festival of Bangladesh organised by Iqbal Wahhab

1997, Nurul Haque organises a conference on Plassey

1998, Nurul Haque organises a larger conference on Plassey

2007, Statue of Siraj ud daula installed in Plassey

2020, Petition to Westminster City Council to remove the statue of Robert Clive

2020, Murad Qureshi expresses his opinion of Robert Clive statue in London

2024, Yinka Shonibare exhibits his series 'Decolonised Structures' at the Serpentine Galleries

depicts | figure

Clive, Robert

shows visual item | présente l'item visuel

man

colonial administrator

sword

consists of | consiste en

bronze

was produced by | a été produit par

Tweed, John

shows visual item | présente l'item visuel

battle scene

throne

has inscription | a une inscription

Clive

consists of | consiste en

bronze

is referred to by | est référencé par

Historic England

Wikipedia

English Heritage

Tate

John Watts, "Contested Statues: The Clive Memorial Fund, Imperial Heroes, and the Reimaginings of Indian History," Journal of British Studies, Published online 2024:1-24

Durba Ghosh, "Stabilizing History through Statues, Monuments, and Memorials in Curzon’s India," The Historical Journal. 2023;66(2):348-369

was brought into existence by | a commencé à exister du fait de

1912, Statue of Robert Clive unveiled outside Gwydyr House, Whitehall, London