Physical Energy, Bronze equestrian sculpture in Kensington Gardens, United Kingdom
Physical Energy is a bronze equestrian statue showing a rider on a horse looking forward, standing about 4 meters (13 feet) tall. The work sits in the open within Kensington Gardens on a pedestal that allows visitors to view it from multiple angles.
Artist George Frederic Watts began designing the statue in the 1880s and finished the plaster model in 1904. The first bronze cast was installed in Kensington Gardens in 1907.
The sculpture communicates the drive to overcome obstacles and reach for goals, something visitors can feel in the forward-leaning posture of both rider and horse. People visiting Kensington Gardens often pause here to absorb the sense of movement and purpose captured in the bronze.
The sculpture is easy to reach through multiple entrances to Kensington Gardens, with nearby underground stations at Lancaster Gate and Queensway. Wear comfortable shoes since you may walk a bit through the park to find the best spot for viewing the work.
Only four bronze casts of this work exist in the world, with one in London, one in Cape Town, one in Harare, and one at the Watts Gallery in Surrey. This rarity makes each cast a special piece of the artist's legacy.
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