Statuary of the West Front of Salisbury Cathedral
This article presents the statues to be found on the Great West Front of Salisbury Cathedral, in Salisbury, England. It names all the statues and their dates of installation, sculptors where known, and the attributes and identifying features of the statues. There are photographs of the statues with an enumerated photograph to show their position on the façade.
Statues
There are 79 figures on the Great West Front.
- 7 are from the 14th century, of which two were modified in the mid-18th century.[1]
- 63 were installed between 1867 and around 1871 from the workshops of James Redfern.[2]
- 5 were installed in the 20th century.
- 4 were installed in the 21st century.
Display scheme
The overall scheme is divided into six tiers.[3] The niche numbering system works from left to right (north to south) as viewed from the west, and from top to bottom. The four lower tiers begin on the north face of the north turret and continue around onto the south face of the south turret; only the lower two tiers have statues on the north face.
Tier 1: The Vesica
| Niche No. | Statue | Date Installed | Sculptor | Attributes or identifying features | Photo West Front showing niche numbers. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 | Christ in Majesty | ?1867 | James Redfern | Holding an orb in the left hand. Right hand missing some fingers. |  Christ in Majesty. |
| 23 | Eagle of St John | c. 14th century | Anon | Showing a nimbus and holding a phylactery. |  Eagle of St John the Evangelist. |
Tier 2: The Angels
| 8 | Standing archangel | ?1867 | James Redfern | Holding an orb and staff. |  Standing Archangel in niche 8 |
| 14 | Seated angel | ?1867 | James Redfern | Head missing, playing a harp. |  Angel in niche 14 |
| 19 | Seated angel | 1999 | Jason Battle [4] | Right hand raised to chest |  Angel in niche 19 |
| 26 | Seated angel | 2000 | Jay Battle [5] | Holding a crown. |  Angel in niche 26 |
| 31 | Seated angel | ?1867 | James Redfern | Face damaged, holding an open scroll. |  Angel in niche 31 |
| 37 | Standing archangel | ?1867 | James Redfern | Missing right hand, orb in left hand. |  Archangel in niche 37 |
Tier 3: Old Testament Patriarchs and Prophets
| 49 | King David | 1869 | James Redfern | Right hand supporting a harp. |  King David |
| 50 | Moses | 1869 | James Redfern | 'Horns' of light on head, holding the Tablets of the Law. |  Moses |
| 51 | Isaiah | 1869-70 | James Redfern | Scroll in right hand, left hand across chest. |  Isaiah |
| 52 | Jeremiah | 1869-70 | James Redfern | Scroll in left hand, right hand raised to chest. |  Jeremiah |
| 53 | Ezekiel | 1869-70 | James Redfern | Looking to left, open scroll in right hand. |  Ezekiel |
| 56 | Abraham | 1867-69 | James Redfern | Knife in right hand, left hand missing. |  Abraham |
| 59 | Noah | 1867-69 | James Redfern | Holding a model Ark in left hand, right hand missing. |  Moses |
| 61 | Job | After 1870 | Anon | Open scroll in left hand showing his name. |  Job |
| 62 | Daniel | Early 20th century | Anon | Open book in left hand, lion at right side. |  Daniel |
| 65 | Samuel | 1869 | James Redfern | Left hand holding beard, right hand raised. |  Samuel |
| 66 | King Solomon | 1869 | James Redfern | Head missing, sceptre in right hand, bag hanging from belt. |  King Solomon |
Tier 4: Apostles
| 79 | St Jude | 1867-69 | James Redfern | Hands together at chest, halberd leaning against body. |  St Jude |
| 80 | St Simon | 1867-69 | James Redfern | Holding a long saw. |  St. Simon |
| 81 | St Andrew | 1867-69 | James Redfern | Holding a small saltire cross |  St. Andrew |
| 82 | St Thomas | 1867-69 | James Redfern | Both hands across chest holding a builder's square. |  St Thomas |
| 86 | St Peter | ?early 14th century | Anon | Both lower arms missing, a disc (the handle of one of his keys) below the right arm, Weathered appearance. |  St Peter |
| 89 | St Mark the Evangelist | 1870 or later | ?James Redfern | Open book in left hand, pen in right hand, lion at feet. |  St Mark the Evangelist |
| 90 | St Matthew the Evangelist | 1870 or later | ?James Redfern | Open book in left hand, pen in right hand, angel at feet. |  St Matthew the Evangelist |
| 91 | St Luke the Evangelist | 1869-70 | ?James Redfern | Clasped book in left hand, pen in right hand, ox head and forelegs by left leg. |  St Luke the Evangelist |
| 92 | St John the Evangelist | 1869-70 | James Redfern | Clasped book in right hand, a cup with an eagle in the left hand, an eagle at his feet. |  St John the Evangelist |
| 95 | St Paul | Early 14th century | Anon | Holding an upright sword in right hand, left arm missing, clothing detail obscured by protective coating. |  St. Paul |
| 99 | St James the Less | 1867-69 | James Redfern | Fuller's club held in left hand. |  St James the Less |
| 100 | St James the Great | 1867-69 | James Redfern | Pilgrim's staff in right hand, forehead and hat damaged. |  St James the Great |
| 101 | St Bartholomew | 1867-69 | James Redfern | Holding a knife in right hand. |  St. Bartholomew |
| 102 | St Matthias | 1867-69 | James Redfern | Hands at chest holding a staff. |  St. Matthias |
Tier 5: Doctors, Virgins and Martyrs
| 116 | St Patrick | After 1870 | James Redfern | On north face. Holding a crozier and dominating a snake at his feet. |  St Patrick |
| 119 | St Ambrose | 1867-69 | James Redfern | Wearing a mitre, staff in left hand. |  St Ambrose |
| 120 | St Jerome | 1867-69 | James Redfern | Wearing a wide brimmed hat, a book in the left hand and a model church in the right hand. |  St. Jerome |
| 121 | St Gregory | 1867-69 | James Redfern | Wearing a papal tiara, a dove on the right shoulder and a sceptre in the left hand. |  St. Gregory |
| 122 | St Augustine of Hippo | 1867-69 | James Redfern | Wearing a mitre, a crozier supported on left wrist. Flaming heart in right hand |  St Augustine of Hippo |
| 124 | St Aldhelm | 2001.[6] | Jay Battle[6] | Supporting a harp at his feet. |  St. Aldhelm |
| 125 | St Remigius of Rheims | c. 1873 | ?James Redfern | Wearing a mitre, right hand raised in benediction left hand holding a book, crozier in left elbow. |  St Remigius of Rheims |
| 129 | St John the Evangelist | 14th century | Anon | Right hand raised, bird on shoulder, clothing detail obscured by protective coating. |  St John the Evangelist |
| 132 | St Barbara | 1868 | James Redfern | Holding martyr's palm in right hand, open book in left hand, small castle behind right leg. |  St Barbara |
| 133 | St Katherine | ?1868 | James Redfern | Supporting a long sword with the left hand, wheel behind legs. |  St Katherine |
| 134 | St Roch | ?1868 | James Redfern | Revealing the plague mark on left thigh, a small attentive dog sits in front. |  St Roche |
| 135 | St Nicholas | ?1868 | James Redfern | Wearing a mitre, left hand is missing, right hand holding three 'golden' balls, lower part of a staff remains. |  St Nicholas |
| 136 | St George | ?1868 | James Redfern | A shield on left elbow, sword supported by left hand, right hand holding head of dragon. |  St George |
| 137 | St Christopher | ?1868 | James Redfern | Carrying the Christ Child on the left shoulder, right hand supporting a large staff. |  St Christopher |
| 138 | St Sebastian | ?1868 | James Redfern | Arms tied behind his back, pierced with three arrows. |  St Sebastian |
| 139 | St Cosmas | ?1868 | James Redfern | Left hand on hip holding clothes, right hand hold cuboid box. |  St Cosmas |
| 140 | St Damian | ?1868 | James Redfern | Right hand raised, left hand holding a pestle and mortar. |  St Damian |
| 141 | St Margaret of Antioch | ?1868 | James Redfern | Holding a crucifix in the left hand, looking down at the dragon at her feet |  St Margaret of Antioch |
| 142 | St Ursula | ?1868 | James Redfern | The remains of a martyr's palm in the right hand, an arrow in the left hand. |  St Ursula |
| 145 | St John the Baptist | Early 14th century | Anon | Supporting an agnus dei roundel on right hand, wearing an animal skin. Badly weathered. |  St John the Baptist |
| 150 | St Stephen | 1869-70 | James Redfern | Remains of a martyr's palm in left hand, some stones in right hand. |  St Stephen |
| 152 | St Lucy | 1867-69 | James Redfern | A lamp in the right hand, a dagger in the left hand. |  St Lucy |
| 153 | St Agatha | 1867-69 | James Redfern | Right hand holding a pair of tongs, left hand on her chest. |  St Agatha |
| 154 | St Agnes | 1867-69 | James Redfern | Right hand supporting a lamb, left hand resting on lamb. |  St Agnes |
| 155 | St Cecilia | 1867-69 | James Redfern | Looking upwards, supporting a portable organ, a plait of hair on the left shoulder. |  St Cecilia |
Tier 6: Worthies belonging to the English Church, many with a local connection
| 166 | Deacon Martyr, ?St Birinus | Early 14th century | Anon: Head by Redfern | On north face, both lower arms missing. Badly weathered. |  ?St Birinus |
| 167 | St Etheldreda | After 1869 | James Redfern | On north face. Holding model church on right arm, staff in left hand. |  St Etheldreda |
| 168 | King Henry VI | ?Early 20th century | Anon | On north face. Fleur-de-lis sceptre in right hand, orb in left hand. |  King Henry VI |
| 169 | Bishop Bridport | Mid-14th century | Anon | Hands missing, left arm supporting a staff. |  Bishop Bridport |
| 170 | Bishop Poore | 1868-69 | James Redfern | Right arm supporting a model of Salisbury Cathedral, left hand holding a short staff. |  Bishop Poore |
| 171 | King Henry III | 1868-69 | James Redfern | Right hand holding a headless sceptre, left hand missing. |  King Henry III |
| 172 | St Edmund of Canterbury | Early 20th century | Anon | Right hand raised in benediction, left hand holding a staff. Name on plinth. |  St Edmund of Canterbury |
| 173 | Bishop Odo of Ramsbury | 1867 | James Redfern | Right hand raised,fingers missing. Left hand holding chalice with wafer showing. |  Bishop Odo of Ramsbury |
| 174 | Canon Ezra Baya Lawiri | 2008[7] | Jason Battle,[8] | Pen in right hand, book in left hand. |  Ezra Baya Lawiri |
| 177 | Bishop Ken | c. 1930-31 | Allan G. Wyon | Right hand raised in benediction. Left hand holding a tall crozier. |  Bishop Ken |
| 178 | St. Osmund | ?1878 | James Redfern | Right hand holding two books. Left hand holding a staff. |  St Osmund |
| 180 | Angel of the Annunciation, Archangel Gabriel | 1870 | James Redfern | Holding some ?lilies in left hand, right hand raised in benediction. |  Angel of the Annunciation |
| 181 | Standing Virgin Mary | 1870 | James Redfern | With a nimbus, missing right hand, remains of lilies on right shoulder. Left hand on chest. |  Virgin Mary |
| 182 | Virgin of the Annunciation | 1870 | James Redfern | Sitting in profile, with a nimbus, holding a book. |  Virgin of the Annunciation |
| 183 | Censing Angel | 1870 | James Redfern | Inside main porch. Right profile holding a censer and chains. |  Censing angel |
| 184 | Virgin and Child | 1870 | James Redfern | Inside main porch. |  Virgin and Child |
| 185 | Censing Angel | 1870 | James Redfern | Inside main porch. Left profile holding censer and chains. |  Censing Angel |
| 187 | Bishop Brithwold | ?1868 | James Redfern | Right hand missing. Remains of left hand holding remnants of a crozier |  Bishop Brithwold |
| 188 | Rev. George Herbert | 2000 | Jason Battle | Hands across chest, looking down. |  George Herbert |
| 192 | St Alban | 1867-69 | James Redfern | Right hand missing. Left hand missing. Left arm supporting a sceptre. Large damaged area from midriff to left foot. |  St Alban |
| 194 | St Alphege | 1867-69 | James Redfern | Clothing lifted to support stones. Stone on right shoulder and on right side of mitre. |  St. Alphege |
| 195 | St Edmund the Martyr | 1867-69 | James Redfern | Right hand holding clothes at chest. Dagger in left side of chest. |  St. Edmund the Martyr |
| 196 | St Thomas of Canterbury | 1867-69 | James Redfern | Damaged right hand raised in benediction. Left hand holding a staff. (Damaged) dagger through skull from right. |  St. Thomas of Canterbury |
References
- Ayers. T., 2000 (Salisbury Cathedral: The West Front:A History and Study in Conservation.) pages 191-247. Philimore, ISBN 1860771521-1-86077-152-1.
- Ayers. T., 2000. pages 191-247.
- Armfield, HT., 1869, (The Legend of Christian Art:Illustrated in the Statues of Salisbury Cathedral.) Brown & Co./Simpkin, Marshall & Co. pages 18-27.
- Ayers, T., 2000, p. 214.
- Ayers, T., 2000, p. 214.
- Tatton-Brown, T. & Crook, J. 2009 (Salisbury Cathedral: The Making of a Medieval Masterpiece.) Scala Publishers Ltd. ISBN 978-1-85759-550-5. page 1.
- https://web.archive.org/web/20090529053904/http://www.salisburycathedral.org.uk/services.reflections.previous.php?id=66
- "Statue marks two anniversaries (From Salisbury Journal)". www.salisburyjournal.co.uk. Retrieved 2010-02-01.
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