COLLECTION NAME:
SHIMMER
mediaCollectionId
SHU~3~3
SHIMMER
Collection
true
Title:
Spirit of the Woods
title
Spirit of the Woods
Title
false
Caption:
The statue is more commonly known as 'Peter Pan'
caption
The statue is more commonly known as 'Peter Pan'
Caption
false
Image Date:
2005
image_date
2005
Image Date
false
Period:
20th century
period
20th century
Period
false
Location:
Sheffield, South Yorkshire
location
Sheffield, South Yorkshire
Location
false
Country:
ENGLAND, UK
country
ENGLAND, UK
Country
false
Material:
bronze
material
bronze
Material
false
Display Creator:
not known
display_creator
not known
Display Creator
false
Image ID:
05-1272
image_id
05-1272
Image ID
false
Description:
View of Rose Garden and statue (photographed after refurbishment in 2004-2005). Location: Botanical Gardens Description: A life-size bronze figure seated on a tree stump. The youth's left arm is raised above his head, his right arm rests on a branch. Over the branch a fleece is thrown, one end falling onto the youth's lap. A bag or cloth is secured at his waist by a shoulder strap. Various woodland creatures rest or scurry round on the ground holding the tree stump. A verse from the Riddle Trail is inscribed in the new stone on which the statue is now mounted. Commission: Presented to the city by Sir Chas. Clifford under the terms of his will 1934. The statue is described in Sir Charles Clifford's will as 'representative of Peter Pan or the Spirit of the Woods' (Sir Charles Clifford's will, 1934, copy from Sheffield Probate Registry, p.2) The statue is commonly called Peter Pan, but every element suggests Pan, the Greek god of pastures, flocks and woods. Rabbits, mice, frogs, birds, and squirrels which surround the figure are natural inhabitants of such places and elves are imaginary woodland spirits. The presence of flocks is suggested by the fleece caught in the tree branch and the bag at the figure's waist might refer to Pan's pipes. Comment: Nothing is known about the artist, the piece could originate either from the 19th Century or the early 20th. It was cast by Cashmore & Co. of London and is now very polished and somewhat delapidated - one or two elements have been broken off. [Update: 2005] The statue has been renovated, by Chris Boulton, as part of the massive refurbishment programme for the Botanical Gardens. Sadly it is still sited so that sunlight is predominantly from behind the piece which makes it harder to see from the front; otherwise it now looks in superb condition.
description
View of Rose Garden and statue (photographed after refurbishment in 2004-2005). Location: Botanical Gardens Description: A life-size bronze figure seated on a tree stump. The youth's left arm is raised above his head, his right arm rests on a branch. Over the branch a fleece is thrown, one end falling onto the youth's lap. A bag or cloth is secured at his waist by a shoulder strap. Various woodland creatures rest or scurry round on the ground holding the tree stump. A verse from the Riddle Trail is inscribed in the new stone on which the statue is now mounted. Commission: Presented to the city by Sir Chas. Clifford under the terms of his will 1934. The statue is described in Sir Charles Clifford's will as 'representative of Peter Pan or the Spirit of the Woods' (Sir Charles Clifford's will, 1934, copy from Sheffield Probate Registry, p.2) The statue is commonly called Peter Pan, but every element suggests Pan, the Greek god of pastures, flocks and woods. Rabbits, mice, frogs, birds, and squirrels which surround the figure are natural inhabitants of such places and elves are imaginary woodland spirits. The presence of flocks is suggested by the fleece caught in the tree branch and the bag at the figure's waist might refer to Pan's pipes. Comment: Nothing is known about the artist, the piece could originate either from the 19th Century or the early 20th. It was cast by Cashmore & Co. of London and is now very polished and somewhat delapidated - one or two elements have been broken off. [Update: 2005] The statue has been renovated, by Chris Boulton, as part of the massive refurbishment programme for the Botanical Gardens. Sadly it is still sited so that sunlight is predominantly from behind the piece which makes it harder to see from the front; otherwise it now looks in superb condition.
Description
false
Rights:
© Sheffield Hallam University
rights
© Sheffield Hallam University
Rights
false
Permissions:
For educational use only. This image may be used in print or digital materials provided that full acknowledgment is given, expressed as follows: " © < insert details from the 'Rights' field >. Photographed by < insert details from the 'Photographed by' field >."
permissions
For educational use only. This image may be used in print or digital materials provided that full acknowledgment is given, expressed as follows: " © < insert details from the 'Rights' field >. Photographed by < insert details from the 'Photographed by' field >."
Permissions
false
Image Storage Location:
image_storage_location
http://helios.shu.ac.uk/05-1272.tif
Image Storage Location
false
Photographed by:
Dave Ball
photographed_by
Dave Ball
Photographed by
false
Creator:
not known
creator
not known
Creator
false
Creator Role:
Landscape designer.
creator_role
Landscape designer.
Creator Role
false
Subject Heading:
Public art -- England -- Sheffield
subject_heading
Public art -- England -- Sheffield
Subject Heading
false
Subject Heading:
Gardens -- England -- Sheffield
subject_heading
Gardens -- England -- Sheffield
Subject Heading
false
Subject Heading:
Parks -- England -- Sheffield
subject_heading
Parks -- England -- Sheffield
Subject Heading
false
Subject Heading:
Benches
subject_heading
Benches
Subject Heading
false