How do we move away from being a civilization that produces art that causes comments like, “my five year old could make this,” back to being one that creates beauty and inspires deep questions? We must reject modernity and embrace tradition. To embrace tradition, we must first learn about it..
Let’s study art history together.
Gallos
Location
Tintagel Castle
Coordinates
50°40′07.6″N 4°45′48.8″W
Designer
Rubin Eynon
Material
Bronze
Height
8 ft (2.4 m)
Beginning date
2015
Opening date
29 April 2016; 9 years ago
This is an incredible bronze sculpture located at Tintagel Castle, in Cornwall, England. Gallos is the Cornish word for “power.” It is often referred to as a King Arthur statue, but the piece is not intended to represent Arthur. It represents the heritage and history of the site (which does include some association with King Arthur.) In its short existence, the sculpture has become extremely popular and has led t o an increase in tourism to the castle.
There’s something in this throwback art that evokes a past that might haunt us, and also something solid that endures with us and will eventually outlast us. The missing elements of the sculpture likely are responsible for the ghostly former feeling, while its size and aesthetic explain the latter feeling.
It feels as if this statue is saying “you’ve lost yourself, Englishman, but you will find yourself again.”
Gallos is an 8-foot-tall (2.4 m) bronze sculpture by Rubin Eynon located at Tintagel Castle, a medieval fortification on the peninsula of Tintagel Island adjacent to the village of Tintagel (Trevena), North Cornwall, in the United Kingdom. It is a representation of a ghostly male figure wearing a crown and holding a sword. It is popularly called the “King Arthur statue”, but the site’s owner English Heritage states that it is not meant to represent a single person and reflects the general history of the site, which is likely to have been a summer residence for the kings of Dumnonia.
Background
Wider view of the sculpture
Tintagel Castle is sited on the north coast of Cornwall, and is operated by English Heritage. The writings of Geoffrey of Monmouth in the 12th century associated the castle with the King Arthur legend, placing it as the home of Arthur’s mother Igraine. The castle itself was constructed by Richard, Earl of Cornwall in the 1230s; inspired by the association with Arthur, he had the castle styled to appear older. It was expanded in the Victorian era.
Sculpture
Gallos was commissioned by English Heritage from the sculptor Rubin Eynon, It took six months to design, sculpt and cast. Gallos portrays a figure 8 ft (2.4 m) tall in a cloak, resting on a sword and wearing a crown. The figure at Tintagel Castle is only partly rendered, with open gaps left in the sculpture through which the viewer can see the landscape beyond, giving a spectral appearance.
The sculpture has become a popular attraction at the castle site. The statue has been popularly associated with Arthur and has commonly become known as the “King Arthur Statue”. However, English Heritage states that it is not a depiction of a single person, and is inspired by the likely use of the site as a summer residence for the kings of the sub-Roman state of Dumnonia as well as the Arthurian legend. They prefer that the viewer makes their own interpretation of the work and consider that the sculpture may represent something more than a human. The name “Gallos” is Cornish for “power”.
Location and installation
Rear of the sculpture
The statue is located above cliffs on the Atlantic coast-side of the castle. The site is only accessible from the mainland by hundreds of steps and the statue was positioned by helicopter. It was unveiled on 29 April 2016, ahead of the bank holiday weekend.
The sculpture was installed by English Heritage as part of a new visitor experience on the site. An earlier sculpture, a rock carving depicting Merlin, had been criticised by Cornish nationalists and historians for “Disneyfication” of the history of the site, and Gallos raised similar questions.
The scheme also saw the installation of a stone compass pointing to other locations across the British Isles associated with the Arthurian legends, and stepping stones in the castle garden telling the story of Tristan and Iseult. A number of information panels were also installed, telling the history of the castle site. The materials used in the new development – bronze, Delabole slate and other stone – are inspired by Tintagel’s industrial history.
This piece of art is way cooler and more impressive with a closer look. I encourage you to watch the virtual tour of the statue linked below:
50°40′07.6″N 4°45′48.8″W
