Rodin's 'The Burghers of Calais' statue in Westminster, London.
The statue of the Burghers of Calais in Victoria Tower Gardens, Westminster, London representing a scene from 1347, of the Hundred Years War. During the Hundred Years War Calais had been taken by Edward III. The King agreed to spare the city if six prominent townspeople surrendered keys to the city and offered their lives. Dressed in sacks and wearing nooses six volunteers presented themselves to King Edward. The queen pleaded and the six hostages were spared. Rodin made this statue at the request of the mayor of Calais and it shows the Burghers as they set out to the English camp to confront the King. There's also a version in Calais but the one shown here is a second statue the National Art Collections Fund bought from Rodin in 1911 as a gift to the nation. Rodin chose Victoria Gardens for his work because of the backdrop of the soaring Gothic towers of Parliament
Size: 4053px × 6081px
Location: Victoria Tower Gardens, Millbank, Westminster, London, SW1
Photo credit: © Steve Atkins Photography / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
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