The Butcher

I've been meaning to do a Blip about the statue in the centre of Cavendish Square for several months, but have been waiting for the sun to be at the best angle to light it. The bright, low sunshine through the thinning autumn leaves today seemed to be a good opportunity, as I've never seen it better illuminated than this.

An equestrian statue of Prince William Augustus, Duke of Cumberland was erected in the square in 1770, but was removed in 1868 since by that time the 'Butcher of Culloden' was generally reviled for his ruthless lack of mercy towards the Jacobites on the battlefield. The plinth remained empty until 2012, when Korean artist Meekyoung Shin re-created the original statue in soap. The artwork is entitled Written in Soap: A Plinth Project. It was originally only intended to be left in the square for a year, but has now been there for over two years, during which time the statue has rapidly aged and eroded. The Duke's right arm is now missing below the elbow, and both legs have fallen off below the knees. In view of the bloodthirsty butchery he displayed towards the wounded Stuart forces on the battlefield at Culloden, and elsewhere during the Jacobite Rebellion, he deserves no better fate.