Fascinating King Edward VII Arch at Victoria Memorial, Calcutta - 1921

Navrang India August 11, 2017
Edward VII Arch, Victoria Memorial, Calcutta Cultural  India

Edward VII  Arch, Victoria Memorial, Calcutta - 1921.alamy.co

Since Calcutta happened to be the capital of British India in the earlier period until early 1900s, it has countless British monuments of exceptional  beauty and grandeur and their real artistic work and unique design, be they buildings or memorials, linger still in our heart for a long time after our visit. In this modern world, these monuments have real old- world charm and aesthetics that need to be sustained and preserved.

Edward VII Arch, Victoria Memorial, Calcutta -memories.blogspot.in
Edward VII arch, Victoria Memorial  Calcutta 123rf.com
 
The archway, in white Rajasthan marble leads us into the great monument -  the Victoria Memorial, Kolkata. A visitor to this can not miss the  bronze statue of the King mounted on his steed. It is a remarkable Equestrian statue  set on a high arch   The work  was  done by  the well-known Australian sculptor Sir Betram Mackennal;  it commemorates both the King Emperor (Rex Imperator) Edward who predeceased the unveiling of the monument and his redoubtable mother Queen Empress Victoria. it was originally exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1916 and is a variation of  Mackennal's similar one in Queen Victoria's Gardens in Melbourne. The allegorical figures made of marbles, represent the British Empire's  sea power (on right) and British land forces (on the left). The arch is on the lower circular road, Kolkata. It was built between 1906 and 1921.

Edward VII  Arch, Victoria Memorial ,Calcutta alamy.com

Edward VII  Arch, Victoria Memorial , Calcutta canstockphoto.com

 Tit-bits: 

Edward (front centre) in India, 1876en.wikipedia.com 


 King Edward XII, en.wikipedia.com 

Above image:  Edward VII (Albert Edward; 9 November 1841- 6 May 1910), King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland  was also the Emperor of India from 22 January 1901 until his death in 1910. There used to be a 5 ton equestrian  statue of king Edward VII in Delhi and it was shipped to Toronto, Canada way back in January, 1969. ....................

Being the eldest son of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, Edward had close relation with the European  royalty.  He was Prince of Wales and heir apparent to the British throne for almost 60 years  because of his mother Queen Victoria's long  reign  he  did not enjoy any  political  power and took to the casual and fashionable life of royal elite.  Widely traveled across the empire,  he was just carrying on the  ceremonial public duties,  representing  Britain on visits abroad. His tours of North America in 1860 and the Indian subcontinent in 1875 were popular successes. However, he failed to have a good relationship with his mother because of his  playboy attitude and philandering.
 
After hi father's demise Edward married Alexandra of Denmark at St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle, on 10 March 1863. He was 21; she was 18.  The couple established Marlborough House as their London residence and Sandringham House in Norfolk as their country retreat. They entertained on a lavish scale. However, Edward continued to have mistresses  Edward  left England on 26 September 1875  for India on an extensive eight-month tour; on the way, he visited Malta, Brindisi and Greece. His advisors remarked on his habit of treating all people the same, regardless of their social station or colour. When Queen Victoria died on 22 January 1901, Edward became King of the United Kingdom He died on the 6th of May 1910 and his funeral took place on 29th May. King Edward was buried at St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle. 

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