The Character Statues

Ravenswood

Found on the north facade of the Scott Monument.

Ravenswood (from the novel 'The Bride of Lammermoor', 1819) is shown in a very thoughtful pose, stroking his beard. He is dressed in a tunic and long flowing cloak.

Edgar, the Master of Ravenswood, is left impoverished after his father's death, the latter having been deprived of his title for supporting James II and VII during the 1689 Revolution, and dispossessed of his estate by the legal trickery of Sir William Ashton. His father's thirst for vengeance against Ashton "had quenched the light and ingenuous vivacity of youth in a countenance singularly fitted to display both", and Edgar's character is sombre and brooding, yet also fiery.

Wolf's Crag, the ruinous tower which is his sole possession, is a fitting home for him. He overcomes his family prejudices by falling for Sir William's daughter Lucy, but their love is foiled by her scheming and domineering mother. Learning of Lucy's marriage to the Laird of Bucklaw, Ravenswood challenges Lucy's brother and husband to a duel. He dies in a quicksand while galloping furiously along the shore to meet his enemies.

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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