Robert the Bruce

astride his horse at the site of the Battle of Bannockburn.

The inscription on the monument:

"For God and St Andrew"
Robert the Bruce
King of Scots
Planted his standard
near this spot
when the
Scottish Patriots
under his command
vanquished the Army of
Edward ll of England at
the Battle of
BANNOCKBURN
24th June 1314

"WE FIGHT NOT FOR GLORY NOR FOR
WEALTH, NOR HONOUR BUT ONLY AND ALONE
WE FIGHT FOR FREEDOM WHICH NO
GOOD MAN SURRENDERS BUT WITH HIS LIFE"

I love this statue. I think the detail in the face is wonderful. It is a face full of strength and character. I love the way the horse's nostrils are flayed as though excited at the prospect of the battle ahead/ weary after the tortures of battle won. It is a statue that really conveys it's subject with real feeling.

POSTSCRIPT (thanks to Wikipedia): The King's head was modelled on measurements of Bruce's skull following the re-discovery of his skeletal remains in Dunfermline Abbey in 1818.

Backblipped 28.9.12 and 29.9.12