The Memorial to Sir Arthur Sullivan, Embankment Gardens, London
Why is there a figure of a half-naked woman draped over the plinth?
Sir Arthur Sullivan (1842–1900) was the composer half of “Gilbert and Sullivan” who wrote a series of comic operas in the late 19th century that have been performed to great acclaim ever since. Sullivan was also a composer of note in other fields, particularly choral church music. His best-known contribution in this genre was probably the hymn tune to “Onward Christian Soldiers”.
The Gilbert and Sullivan operas were staged at the Savoy Theatre in London’s Strand, so it is appropriate that the memorial to Sir Arthur stands in the Embankment Gardens facing in the direction of the Savoy Hotel and Theatre, although his bronze bust, if granted the gift of sight, would find that his view was obscured by high buildings.
The memorial is conventional enough in concept, in that it is a bust on a stone plinth, but there are features that make it somewhat unusual.
At the base of the plinth, to one side, is an extra piece of bronze consisting of a mandolin, a mask of Pan, and a score of one of Gilbert and Sullivan’s works, namely The Yeoman of the Guard.
However, what catches the eye to a far greater extent is the figure of a young woman…