One of the most striking public monuments in London is the Albert Memorial. Our puzzle was solved by several people this week, with congratulations going out to George G, GarryRF, ProfessorAbe and PortMoresby.
The Albert Memorial is located in Kensington Gardens across the street from the Royal Albert Hall….
Once seen, you’ll never forget this Memorial. Extremely ornate, built in the high-Gothic Victorian revival style, it commemorates Queen Victoria’s husband, Prince Albert, who died of typhoid fever at the young age of 42 in 1861.
The monument was commissioned by Queen Victoria and unveiled in 1872. The happy marriage between Victoria and Albert is well known, so the creation of a beautiful tribute to the prince should not surprise anyone. The memorial is 176 feet (54 m) tall, took over ten years to complete, and cost £120,000 (today the equivalent of about more than £10,000,000).
It is officially titled the “Prince Consort National Memorial” and itself is a celebration of the Victorian era — the time when the sun never set on the British Empire — highlighting some of the Prince’s passions. Prince Albert is shown holding the catalogue of the Great Exhibition which was held in Hyde Park in 1851, an event he inspired and helped organize.
At the four corner of the monument are marble figures representing Asia, Africa, America, Asia and Europe.
Higher up are figures representing agriculture, commerce, engineering and manufacture. Further up still are are gilded statues of the angels.
All around the base of the memorial the Parnassus frieze, This contains 187 figures including poets, painters, musicians and architects, reflecting Albert’s enthusiasm for the arts.
