Download Alfred Gilbert Statue Piccadilly Circus Pics. But behind the now iconic, almost hackneyed, sculpture is a history of controversy, hooliganism, errors and ruined careers. Gilbert was of course a central figure in the new sculpture.

Piccadilly Circus square with the Shaftesbury memorial ... from c8.alamy.com

The basin was not as large as alfred gilbert's designs, resulting in passers by being gilbert was so furious at his altered and now rather embarrassingly impractical design that he refused to turn up for the unveiling. It was removed for safekeeping during the two world wars and during the rebuilding of the piccadilly subway station in the 1920s. The sculpture was at first cast in gold but later replaced by newfangled aluminium, the first outdoor statue in that lightweight metal.

The triangle in the centre of the circus, is occupied by a memorial fountain to lord shaftesbury, by alfred gilbert, a.r.a., unveiled in 1893, and adorned with eight plaques of scenes from the philanthropist's life.

Alfred gilbert s statue of eros in piccadilly circus. The christmas decoration around the eros statue in piccadilly circus collapsed on monday evening. The statue has become a london icon: Piccadilly circus is a dynamic and picturesque place with a happy and lively cosmopolitan atmosphere.