Shakespeare Memorial

Unique IDPC-000015Creator/ArchitectSir Edgar Bertram MackennalTypeSculptureDescriptionA memorial featuring a life-size bronze sculpture of William Shakespeare, who stands on a supporting marble pedestal. The Shakespeare figure is surrounded by a selection of his characters: Romeo and Juliet, Othello, Portia and Falstaff.

The commission was led by Henry Gullet, President of the Shakespeare Society of NSW from 1904 to 1911, and later his daughters, who fulfilled their father's wish, collaborating with renowned sculptor Sir Edgar Bertram Mackennal (1863–1931).

The memorial was unveiled in 1926 and originally placed between the Garden Palace Grounds and the Mitchell Library. It was repositioned at Shakespeare Place opposite the State Library of NSW to make way for the Cahill Expressway in 1959.External linksShakespeare MemorialSubject tagsSculptureMemorialPublic art




Photograph
Cahill Expressway construction, repositioning Shakespeare Memorial Sculpture, Sydney, 1962

Cahill Expressway construction, repositioning Shakespeare Memorial Sculpture, Sydney, 1962

Cahill Expressway construction, repositioning Shakespeare Memorial Sculpture, Sydney, 1962

Cahill Expressway construction, repositioning Shakespeare Memorial Sculpture, Sydney, 1962

Cahill Expressway construction, repositioning Shakespeare Memorial Sculpture, Sydney, 1962

Cahill Expressway construction, repositioning Shakespeare Memorial Sculpture, Sydney, 1962

Cahill Expressway construction, repositioning Shakespeare Memorial Sculpture, Sydney, 1962

Cahill Expressway construction, repositioning Shakespeare Memorial Sculpture, Sydney, 1962

Cahill Expressway construction, repositioning Shakespeare Memorial Sculpture, Sydney, 1962

Cahill Expressway construction, repositioning Shakespeare Memorial Sculpture, Sydney, 1962

Shakespeare Memorial from Shakespeare Place, Shakespeare Place Sydney, 1958

Shakespeare Memorial from Shakespeare Place, Shakespeare Place Sydney, 1958

Plinth and back of the Shakespeare Memorial, Shakespeare Place Sydney, 1958

Plinth and back of the Shakespeare Memorial, Shakespeare Place Sydney, 1958

Streetscape with State Library of NSW and Shakespeare Memorial, Macquarie Street Sydney, 1962

Streetscape with State Library of NSW and Shakespeare Memorial, Macquarie Street Sydney, 1962

Shakespeare Memorial looking towards Potts Point, Shakespeare Place Sydney, 1986

Shakespeare Memorial looking towards Potts Point, Shakespeare Place Sydney, 1986

Inscription on the base of the Shakespeare Memorial, Shakespeare Place Sydney, 1986

Inscription on the base of the Shakespeare Memorial, Shakespeare Place Sydney, 1986

Sculptures and inscription on Shakespeare Memorial, Shakespeare Place Sydney, 1986

Sculptures and inscription on Shakespeare Memorial, Shakespeare Place Sydney, 1986

Shakespeare Memorial in front of State Library, Shakespeare Place Sydney, no date

Shakespeare Memorial in front of State Library, Shakespeare Place Sydney, no date

Shakespeare Memorial, Shakespeare Place Sydney, no date

Shakespeare Memorial, Shakespeare Place Sydney, no date

Romeo and Juliet Status on Shakespeare Memorial before restoration, Shakespeare Place, no date

Romeo and Juliet Status on Shakespeare Memorial before restoration, Shakespeare Place, no date

Shakespeare Memorial with State Library building on the right, Shakespeare Place, no date

Shakespeare Memorial with State Library building on the right, Shakespeare Place, no date

Conservator on scaffold restoring Shakespeare Memorial, Shakespeare Place Sydney, no date

Conservator on scaffold restoring Shakespeare Memorial, Shakespeare Place Sydney, no date

Conservator working on the Shakespeare Memorial, Shakespeare Place Sydney, no date

Conservator working on the Shakespeare Memorial, Shakespeare Place Sydney, no date

Portia bronze figure on Shakespeare Memorial, Macquarie Street Sydney, no date

Portia bronze figure on Shakespeare Memorial, Macquarie Street Sydney, no date

Shakespeare Memorial, Macquarie Street Sydney, no date

Shakespeare Memorial, Macquarie Street Sydney, no date

Shakespeare statue atop the Shakespeare Memorial, Macquarie Street Sydney, no date

Shakespeare statue atop the Shakespeare Memorial, Macquarie Street Sydney, no date

Hamlet statue on the Shakespeare Memorial, Shakespeare Place Sydney, no date

Hamlet statue on the Shakespeare Memorial, Shakespeare Place Sydney, no date

Shakespeare Memorial with a view towards Kings Cross, Shakespeare Place Sydney, no date

Shakespeare Memorial with a view towards Kings Cross, Shakespeare Place Sydney, no date

Royal Botanic Gardens, Macquarie Street Sydney, circa 1919

Royal Botanic Gardens, Macquarie Street Sydney, circa 1919

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Books & Journals
Sydney Open Museum - Condition assessment: Shakespeare Memorial, 1995

Sydney Open Museum - Condition assessment: Shakespeare Memorial, 1995

Shakespeare Memorial, Shakespeare Place, Sydney: conservation treatments final report / L Popian

Shakespeare Memorial, Shakespeare Place, Sydney: conservation treatments final report / L Popian

Item
File - Deputation for establishment of memorial to Shakespeare, 1912

File - Deputation for establishment of memorial to Shakespeare, 1912

Plan
Plan - New site for Shakespeare Memorial, Eastern Distributor, no date

Plan - New site for Shakespeare Memorial, Eastern Distributor, no date

Shakespeare Memorial, Macquarie Street Sydney, no date (A-00034152)Shakespeare Memorial, Macquarie Street Sydney, no date (A-00034152)
Key dates and actions
Date commissionedBetween 1st January 1926 and 31st December 1926Other locationPreviously located between the Garden Palace Grounds and the Mitchell Library.
Geo location
Geographic location[1]
Relationships
CollectionPublic Art