London statues: Newton
This amazing statue stands in the courtyard of the British Library, near St Pancras station. It’s bulky, powerful, a brooding presence, the bronze contrasting with the red brick of the library buildings. You couldn’t miss it – as you so often can with London statues.
Sir Eduardo Paolozzi was commissioned to make this statue of Newton for the site, and I think he’s come up trumps. The image derives from a picture by William Blake, the eighteenth century artist and writer, in which Blake sees Newton almost as a divine creator (God was often shown with a pair of compasses, as the Great Architect in Masonic terms). So there’s a reference to an artist, as well as the portrait of a scientist – neatly showing both fields of human endeavour.
The photo can’t do justice to the sheer size of the statue. It looms over you from its plinth – there’s no way to get up to its level. It really is impressive.
If you’re travelling through King’s Cross or St Pancras Station, make time to pop into the British Library and see this statue. Definitely one of London’s top ten in my book.
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