Paternoster, Bronze sculpture in Paternoster Square, City of London, England.
Paternoster is a bronze sculpture in Paternoster Square showing a shepherd guiding five sheep. The work rests on a Portland stone base and occupies a prominent position in this public plaza near St Paul's Cathedral.
Artist Elisabeth Frink created this work in 1975 for a Trafalgar House development project at Paternoster Square. The sculpture emerged during a period when this part of the City of London was being significantly rebuilt and reimagined.
The shepherd and sheep reference the former livestock trading that once happened at Newgate Market nearby, while the religious imagery connects to St Paul's Cathedral close by. Visitors often stop to see how the work speaks to the area's past use of the land.
The sculpture sits in a wheelchair accessible plaza that is open to the public at all times. You can view it easily while walking through Paternoster Square, and there are no barriers between you and the work.
Famous violinist Yehudi Menuhin officially unveiled the sculpture in 1975, drawing international attention to the work. His involvement highlighted the importance of the piece during this period of urban transformation in London.
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