The Character Statues

Ivanhoe

Found on the east facade of the Scott Monument, opposite the Knight Templar, beside the Museum room window.

Ivanhoe (from the novel 'Ivanhoe', 1819) is depicted as a medieval knight in chain mail, armour and plumed full-face helmet. He is holding a long lance taller than himself.

Wilfred, son of Cedric, is the Disinherited Knight of Ivanhoe and the eponymous hero of the novel. Banished by his father for persisting in his love for the Lady Rowena, he excelled in arms in Palestine and won favour with Richard Coeur-de-Lion. He returns to England disguised as a Palmer (a pilgrim bearing a palm-leaf to signify that he has visited the Holy Land). He has a running feud with the Knight Templar, is equipped for the tournament at Ashby by Isaac of York, and is afterwards nursed by Isaac's daughter Rebecca, who falls in love with whom she regards as "boldest among the bold, and gentlest among the gentle". Young, handsome and valiant, Ivanhoe champions Rebecca and saves her from execution, but eventually wins the hand of Rowena.

About the Sculptor

John Rhind (1828 to 1892)

Born in Banff, John Rhind was the son of a master stonemason and descended from a line of stonemasons since the early 18th century.

He studied sculpture in the studio of Alexander ‘Handyside’ Ritchie, and his son, William Birnie Rhind also became a sculptor and created statues for the Monument. Rhind was elected ARSA (Associate of the Royal Scottish Academy) in 1892, but died before signing the membership roll.

His portrait busts include ‘William Gladstone’ 1886 for the Scottish Liberal Club, ‘Victoria and Albert’, ‘Darwin’, ‘Michaelangelo’ and ‘Newton’ all 1859 which can all be found in the Royal Scottish Museum. He executed a fine statue of William Chambers (1890) in bronze in Chambers Street and one of Dick (1883) at the Royal Veterinary College.

Rhind also has other statues in the National Gallery of Scotland, Scottish National Portrait Gallery and St Giles Cathedral.

His statues on the Scott Monument are Ivanhoe, John Knox, Rob Roy, Lucy Ashton, Ravenswood, Dugald Dalgetty, George Buchanan and Richie Moniplies.

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