Sir Joseph Paxton

William Frederick Woodington (1806-1893)

1869; unveiled 1873

Re-sited 1981

Marble, on a redbrick plinth, with a concrete base and step

Crystal Palace Park, London SE19

Photograph, caption, and Commentary below by Jacqueline Banerjee.

You may use this image without prior permission for any scholarly or educational purpose as long as you (1) credit the photographer and (2) link your document to this URL.

Other Views and Related Material

Three-quarter view of face, from below

Front (detail)

The Crystal Palace

Italian terraces of the Crystal Palace today

Sir Joseph Paxton

The cost of this wonderfully dramatic, much larger-than-life head of Paxton was raised” by public subscription (see "Crystal Palace Park"). It was originally installed at the main approach to the re-sited Crystal Palace, but has now been re-sited itself. Instead of looking towards the Italian terraces (all that remains of the Crystal Palace complex), Paxton has his back to them, and overlooks the new National Sports Centre and the Crystal Palace Park instead.

Like Woodington's Coade Lion on Westminster Bridge, the work is stylised: strong, bold, and adorned with a fine mane of hair. According to one source, the sculptor went unacknowledged for many years (see "William Frederick Woodington, ARA"); but Woodington's name, and the date of the work's completion, are both clearly incised on the back of the bust. The much more recent bronze plaque on the plinth in front carries a small representation of the main part of the Palace, set over the following inscription: "SIR JOSEPH PAXTON M.P. / 1803-1865 / CREATOR OF / THE CRYSTAL PALACE / WHICH STOOD NEAR THIS SITE / FROM 1854-1936 / GREATER LONDON COUNCIL 1981 CRYSTAL PALACE FOUNDATION."

Bibliography

"Crystal Palace Park, Penge, South London". Viewed 5 May 2009.

"William Frederick Woodington, ARA". Viewed 5 May 2009.

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Last modified 6 May 2009