Keats in London - Part One

[toots]

As promised, here are some photos which I managed to take in my lunch hour today. Luckily the sun was shining and it was dry. I took the chance to take a look at the Old Operating Theatre which houses a medical museum as well as the operating theatre that was built in 1822. It is obviously not the one the Keats would have known, but is very similar.

I hope those of you on this forum who live far from London will be able to enjoy these pictures.



This is the blue plaque marking the house at St Thomas Street where Keats had lodgings as a medical student.



The facade of Guy's and St Thomas's Hospital. I had my first ever operation here when my wisdom teeth were taken out under a general anaesthetic. I'm so glad I was born in the twentieth century.



Here is the little alcove with the statue of John Keats by sculptor Stuart Williamson. I like the statue very much as I think the artist has captured the poet's refined features and sensitive soul rather well. What do you think?







There is more information about Stuart Williamson and his work at the following website:
http://www.portraitsculpture-online.com/MainMenu.htm

I believe he has busts of Keats available for purchase in a limited edition. There is also more about the unveiling of the statue at Guy's here:

http://www.london-se1.co.uk/news/view/2984

[BrokenLyre]

Thanks for posting. How i wish I could visit London.

[Raphael]

Here is the little alcove with the statue of John Keats by sculptor Stuart Williamson. I like the statue very much as I think the artist has captured the poet's refined features and sensitive soul rather well. What do you think?

Yes indeed! Thanks SO much for posting your photos and the link to the artist's page. I have just had a look at the photos of close ups of John's statue and....wow...I can really see the likeness to his life mask from the close ups.The terracotta is my favourite- I had a little shiver looking at it as it seems to me that this is how he looked (with the exception of his hair- I think it was curlier than this, going by the painted portraits of him). I just have a feeling this is a very accurate portrait of him.The expression is really beautiful. If this was painted though, the impact would be greater.

The statue looks like the artist has got the correct height for him too.

[Saturn]

If you see my pictures of myself sitting beside him in the other thread, I tower over him, and I'm not at all tall. It was like sitting beside a child almost, or a young teenager.

[Raphael]

I don't think he'd like being likened to a child /teenager Saturn! I've seen the thread and I think you said you are 5'8- that is reasonably tall. I myself am about his height and rather glad for it. I have always preferred shorter men, rather than taller ones. I won't tell you why..you'll have to guess...

[Cybele]

Thanks for posting the pictures, toots! And thank you especially for the links.
That sculptor's work is quite amazing. Not only are these three-dimensional portraits good likenesses, but they also give you a hint of the subject's character/personality.

[Maureen]

Thanks Toots =- apologies for my asking about your visit to the statue etc in the Part Two thread - I read it before this one!

When I visited the statue the little shelter was crowded with schoolgirls enjoying their lunch, so I was unable to have a picture taken with him, sadly. I'm sure he would have enjoyed being surrounded by girls though.

So as a compensation, my friend took a picture of me with his bust at Keats House - it is exactly his height, and at 5'9" I too tower over him, but I definitely got the impression he was all man! I will have to get the photo from my friend and will post it - meanwhile, I blogged about my London trip if anyone is interested in reading about it: http://maureen-lynchmere.blogspot.com/2 ... eries.html

[Raphael]

When I visited the statue the little shelter was crowded with schoolgirls enjoying their lunch, so I was unable to have a picture taken with him, sadly. I'm sure he would have enjoyed being surrounded by girls though.

I bet he would lol...I hope they were taking notice of him?

So as a compensation, my friend took a picture of me with his bust at Keats House - it is exactly his height, and at 5'9" I too tower over him, but I definitely got the impression he was all man!

I think so Maureen- he was all man where it counts.

I will have to get the photo from my friend and will post it - meanwhile, I blogged about my London trip if anyone is interested in reading about it: http://maureen-lynchmere.blogspot.com/2 ... eries.html

I'll have a read of that tommorrow- getting late here- I should get to bed ...