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Statuary of the West Front of Salisbury Cathedral

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This article presents the statues to be found on the Great West Front of Salisbury Cathedral, in Salisbury, England. It names all the statues and their dates of installation, sculptors where known, and the attributes and identifying features of the statues. There are photographs of the statues with an enumerated photograph to show their position on the façade.

Statues

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There are 79 figures on the Great West Front.

  • 7 are from the 14th century, of which two were modified in the mid-18th century.[1]
  • 63 were installed between 1867 and around 1871 from the workshops of James Redfern.[2]
  • 5 were installed in the 20th century.
  • 4 were installed in the 21st century.

Display scheme

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The overall scheme is divided into six tiers.[3] The niche numbering system works from left to right (north to south) as viewed from the west, and from top to bottom. The four lower tiers begin on the north face of the north turret and continue around onto the south face of the south turret; only the lower two tiers have statues on the north face.

Tier 1: The Vesica

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Niche No. Statue Date Installed Sculptor Attributes or identifying features Photo
West Front showing niche numbers.
8 Christ in Majesty ?1867 James Redfern Holding an orb in the left hand. Right hand missing some fingers.
Christ in Majesty.
23 Eagle of St John c. 14th century Anon Showing a nimbus and holding a phylactery.
Eagle of St John the Evangelist.

Tier 2: The Angels

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8 Standing archangel ?1867 James Redfern Holding an orb and staff.
Standing Archangel in niche 8
14 Seated angel ?1867 James Redfern Head missing, playing a harp.
Angel in niche 14
19 Seated angel 1999 Jason Battle [4] Right hand raised to chest
Angel in niche 19
26 Seated angel 2000 Jay Battle [4] Holding a crown.
Angel in niche 26
31 Seated angel ?1867 James Redfern Face damaged, holding an open scroll.
Angel in niche 31
37 Standing archangel ?1867 James Redfern Missing right hand, orb in left hand.
Archangel in niche 37

Tier 3: Old Testament Patriarchs and Prophets

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49 King David 1869 James Redfern Left hand supporting a harp.
King David
50 Moses 1869 James Redfern 'Horns' of light on head, holding the Tablets of the Law.
Moses
51 Isaiah 1869–70 James Redfern Scroll in right hand, left hand across chest.
Isaiah
52 Jeremiah 1869–70 James Redfern Scroll in left hand, right hand raised to chest.
Jeremiah
53 Ezekiel 1869–70 James Redfern Looking to left, open scroll in right hand.
Ezekiel
56 Abraham 1867–69 James Redfern Knife in right hand, left hand missing.
Abraham
59 Noah 1867–69 James Redfern Holding a model Ark in left hand, right hand missing.
Moses
61 Job After 1870 Anon Open scroll in left hand showing his name.
Job
62 Daniel Early 20th century Anon Open book in left hand, lion at right side.
Daniel
65 Samuel 1869 James Redfern Left hand holding beard, right hand raised.
Samuel
66 King Solomon 1869 James Redfern Head missing, sceptre in right hand, bag hanging from belt.
King Solomon

Tier 4: Apostles

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79 St Jude 1867–69 James Redfern Hands together at chest, halberd leaning against body.
St Jude
80 St Simon 1867–69 James Redfern Holding a long saw.
St. Simon
81 St Andrew 1867–69 James Redfern Holding a small saltire cross
St. Andrew
82 St Thomas 1867–69 James Redfern Both hands across chest holding a builder's square.
St Thomas
86 St Peter ?early 14th century Anon Both lower arms missing, a disc (the handle of one of his keys) below the right arm, Weathered appearance.
St Peter
89 St Mark the Evangelist 1870 or later ?James Redfern Open book in left hand, pen in right hand, lion at feet.
St Mark the Evangelist
90 St Matthew the Evangelist 1870 or later ?James Redfern Open book in left hand, pen in right hand, angel at feet.
St Matthew the Evangelist
91 St Luke the Evangelist 1869–70 ?James Redfern Clasped book in left hand, pen in right hand, ox head and forelegs by left leg.
St Luke the Evangelist
92 St John the Evangelist 1869–70 James Redfern Clasped book in right hand, a cup with an eagle in the left hand, an eagle at his feet.
St John the Evangelist
95 St Paul Early 14th century Anon Holding an upright sword in right hand, left arm missing, clothing detail obscured by protective coating.
St. Paul
99 St James the Less 1867–69 James Redfern Fuller's club held in left hand.
St James the Less
100 St James the Great 1867–69 James Redfern Pilgrim's staff in right hand, forehead and hat damaged.
St James the Great
101 St Bartholomew 1867–69 James Redfern Holding a knife in right hand.
St. Bartholomew
102 St Matthias 1867–69 James Redfern Hands at chest holding a staff.
St. Matthias

Tier 5: Doctors, Virgins and Martyrs

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116 St Patrick After 1870 James Redfern On north face. Holding a crozier and dominating a snake at his feet.
St Patrick
119 St Ambrose 1867–69 James Redfern Wearing a mitre, staff in left hand.
St Ambrose
120 St Jerome 1867–69 James Redfern Wearing a wide brimmed hat, a book in the left hand and a model church in the right hand.
St. Jerome
121 St Gregory 1867–69 James Redfern Wearing a papal tiara, a dove on the right shoulder and a sceptre in the left hand.
St. Gregory
122 St Augustine of Hippo 1867–69 James Redfern Wearing a mitre, a crozier supported on left wrist. Flaming heart in right hand
St Augustine of Hippo
124 St Aldhelm 2001[clarification needed].[5] Jay Battle[5] Supporting a harp at his feet.
St. Aldhelm
125 St Remigius of Rheims c. 1873 ?James Redfern Wearing a mitre, right hand raised in benediction left hand holding a book, crozier in left elbow.
St Remigius of Rheims
129 St John the Evangelist 14th century Anon Right hand raised, bird on shoulder, clothing detail obscured by protective coating.
St John the Evangelist
132 St Barbara 1868 James Redfern Holding martyr's palm in right hand, open book in left hand, small castle behind right leg.
St Barbara
133 St Katherine ?1868 James Redfern Supporting a long sword with the left hand, wheel behind legs.
St Katherine
134 St Roch ?1868 James Redfern Revealing the plague mark on left thigh, a small attentive dog sits in front.
St Roche
135 St Nicholas ?1868 James Redfern Wearing a mitre, left hand is missing, right hand holding three 'golden' balls, lower part of a staff remains.
St Nicholas
136 St George ?1868 James Redfern A shield on left elbow, sword supported by left hand, right hand holding head of dragon.
St George
137 St Christopher ?1868 James Redfern Carrying the Christ Child on the left shoulder, right hand supporting a large staff.
St Christopher
138 St Sebastian ?1868 James Redfern Arms tied behind his back, pierced with three arrows.
St Sebastian
139 St Cosmas ?1868 James Redfern Left hand on hip holding clothes, right hand hold cuboid box.
St Cosmas
140 St Damian ?1868 James Redfern Right hand raised, left hand holding a pestle and mortar.
St Damian
141 St Margaret of Antioch ?1868 James Redfern Holding a crucifix in the left hand, looking down at the dragon at her feet
St Margaret of Antioch
142 St Ursula ?1868 James Redfern The remains of a martyr's palm in the right hand, an arrow in the left hand.
St Ursula
145 St John the Baptist Early 14th century Anon Supporting an agnus dei roundel on right hand, wearing an animal skin. Badly weathered.
St John the Baptist
150 St Stephen 1869–70 James Redfern Remains of a martyr's palm in left hand, some stones in right hand.
St Stephen
152 St Lucy 1867–69 James Redfern A lamp in the right hand, a dagger in the left hand.
St Lucy
153 St Agatha 1867–69 James Redfern Right hand holding a pair of tongs, left hand on her chest.
St Agatha
154 St Agnes 1867–69 James Redfern Right hand supporting a lamb, left hand resting on lamb.
St Agnes
155 St Cecilia 1867–69 James Redfern Looking upwards, supporting a portable organ, a plait of hair on the left shoulder.
St Cecilia

Tier 6: Worthies belonging to the English Church, many with a local connection

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166 Deacon Martyr, ?St Birinus Early 14th century Anon: Head by Redfern On north face, both lower arms missing. Badly weathered.
?St Birinus
167 St Etheldreda After 1869 James Redfern On north face. Holding model church on right arm, staff in left hand.
St Etheldreda
168 King Henry VI ?Early 20th century Anon On north face. Fleur-de-lis sceptre in right hand, orb in left hand.
King Henry VI
169 Bishop Bridport Mid-14th century Anon Hands missing, left arm supporting a staff.
Bishop Bridport
170 Bishop Poore 1868–69 James Redfern Right arm supporting a model of Salisbury Cathedral, left hand holding a short staff.
Bishop Poore
171 King Henry III 1868–69 James Redfern Right hand holding a headless sceptre, left hand missing.
King Henry III
172 St Edmund of Canterbury Early 20th century Anon Right hand raised in benediction, left hand holding a staff. Name on plinth.
St Edmund of Canterbury
173 Bishop Odo of Ramsbury 1867 James Redfern Right hand raised,fingers missing. Left hand holding chalice with wafer showing.
Bishop Odo of Ramsbury
174 Canon Ezra Baya Lawiri 2008[6] Jason Battle,[7] Pen in right hand, book in left hand.
Ezra Baya Lawiri
177 Bishop Ken c. 1930–31 Allan G. Wyon Right hand raised in benediction. Left hand holding a tall crozier.
Bishop Ken
178 St. Osmund ?1878 James Redfern Right hand holding two books. Left hand holding a staff.
St Osmund
180 Angel of the Annunciation, Archangel Gabriel 1870 James Redfern Holding some ?lilies in left hand, right hand raised in benediction.
Angel of the Annunciation
181 Standing Virgin Mary 1870 James Redfern With a nimbus, missing right hand, remains of lilies on right shoulder. Left hand on chest.
Virgin Mary
182 Virgin of the Annunciation 1870 James Redfern Sitting in profile, with a nimbus, holding a book.
Virgin of the Annunciation
183 Censing Angel 1870 James Redfern Inside main porch. Right profile holding a censer and chains.
Censing angel
184 Virgin and Child 1870 James Redfern Inside main porch.
Virgin and Child
185 Censing Angel 1870 James Redfern Inside main porch. Left profile holding censer and chains.
Censing Angel
187 Bishop Brithwold ?1868 James Redfern Right hand missing. Remains of left hand holding remnants of a crozier
Bishop Brithwold
188 Rev. George Herbert 2000 Jason Battle Hands across chest, looking down.
George Herbert
192 St Alban 1867–69 James Redfern Right hand missing. Left hand missing. Left arm supporting a sceptre. Large damaged area from midriff to left foot.
St Alban
194 St Alphege 1867–69 James Redfern Clothing lifted to support stones. Stone on right shoulder and on right side of mitre.
St. Alphege
195 St Edmund the Martyr 1867–69 James Redfern Right hand holding clothes at chest. Dagger in left side of chest.
St. Edmund the Martyr
196 St Thomas of Canterbury 1867–69 James Redfern Damaged right hand raised in benediction. Left hand holding a staff. (Damaged) dagger through skull from right.
St. Thomas of Canterbury

References

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  1. ^ Ayers. T., 2000 (Salisbury Cathedral: The West Front:A History and Study in Conservation.) pages 191–247. Philimore, ISBN 1860771521-1-86077-152-1.
  2. ^ Ayers. T., 2000. pages 191–247.
  3. ^ Armfield, HT., 1869, (The Legend of Christian Art:Illustrated in the Statues of Salisbury Cathedral.) Brown & Co./Simpkin, Marshall & Co. pages 18–27.
  4. ^ a b Ayers, T., 2000, p. 214.
  5. ^ a b Tatton-Brown, T. & Crook, J. 2009 (Salisbury Cathedral: The Making of a Medieval Masterpiece.) Scala Publishers Ltd. ISBN 978-1-85759-550-5. page 1.
  6. ^ "Previous Reflections – Salisbury Cathedral". www.salisburycathedral.org.uk. Archived from the original on 29 May 2009. Retrieved 12 January 2022.
  7. ^ "Statue marks two anniversaries (From Salisbury Journal)". www.salisburyjournal.co.uk. 11 July 2008. Retrieved 1 February 2010.
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