Statue of Jan Christian Smuts (Cape Town)
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 Statue of Jan Smuts in Cape Town in front of the National Art Gallery | |
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| 33°55′31″S 18°25′26″E / 33.92528°S 18.42389°E | |
| Location | Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa |
|---|---|
| Designer | Sydney Harpley |
| Type | Statue |
| Completion date | May 1964 |
| Dedicated to | Jan Smuts |
The Statue of Jan Christian Smuts is located in central Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa. It commemorates Jan Smuts, a South African lawyer, military leader, philosopher, and statesman.
Created by British sculptor Sydney Harpley (1927–1992), this avant-garde piece was unveiled in May 1964 in front of the National Art Gallery.
Location
[edit]The statue is situated in front of the National Art Gallery, near the Company's Garden in the Gardens neighborhood.
Description
[edit]The statue is highly stylized, featuring an abstract humanoid form representing a rock on which Jan Smuts is seated in contemplation. Both the figure and the rock are made from the same material, symbolizing Smuts as a solid and monumental figure. His contemplative pose reflects his philosophical nature and his passion for hiking the trails of Table Mountain.
The only inscription on the statue is the name "Jan Christian Smuts."
History
[edit]The statue was funded by public subscription and erected in May 1964.[1] The public's reaction to Harpley's avant-garde work was largely negative.
To quell the controversy, a new statue was commissioned from South African sculptor Ivan Mitford-Barberton and unveiled on January 26, 1974, 500 meters away at the corner of Wale and Adderley Street, in front of the former slave lodge.
References
[edit]- ^ "General Jan Smuts". Smuts Hall. Archived from the original on 2016-09-10.
External links
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