Statue of Queen Anne, Royal sculpture at St Paul's Cathedral, London, England.
The Statue of Queen Anne is a stone sculpture in the forecourt of St Paul's Cathedral, depicting the monarch in royal dress holding a gilded orb and sceptre. The figure stands on a Portland stone base surrounded by four allegorical figures representing different aspects of her reign.
The sculptor Francis Bird created the original marble version in 1712 as part of the cathedral's decoration. After severe deterioration, it was replaced by a replica made by Louis-Auguste Malempré in 1886.
The four figures at the base represent territories under British rule during Queen Anne's time. Visitors can observe how the kingdom presented itself through these symbolic figures.
The statue is located in the forecourt in front of the cathedral's west front and can be viewed during regular cathedral hours. The early morning hours provide the best opportunity to see it without crowds.
In 1769 a sailor from India severely damaged the original by removing the orb and destroying the arms and sceptre. This incident contributed to the decision to replace it with a permanent copy more than a century later.
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