Allan Ramsay Monument

Heritage listing

Category A Group Category Details 100000019 - see notes Date Added 14/12/1970 Supplementary Information Updated 15/10/2001 Local Authority Edinburgh Planning Authority Edinburgh Burgh Edinburgh NGR NT 25330 73833 Coordinates 325330, 673833 — Sir John Steell, 1850 and David Bryce, 1865. Pedestrian figure of Allan Ramsay in 18th century costume, with cape, and holding book; Carrara marble, by Steell, on square-plan corniced ashlar pedestal with Corinthian colonnettes to corners and high relief sculpted profile portraits (see Notes) to each elevation. Square-plan Baronial substructure by Bryce: stugged sandstone with polished dressings; timber boarded door with decorative iron hinges to W elevation in roll-moulded surround with rope hoodmould; stop-chamfered corners; corbelled out to corners above (carved masks to corbels); rope moulding and cannon spouts to corbel course; balustrade with semicircular corners to roof. — The A Group comprises The Allan Ramsay Monument, The Cottage, Dr Guthrie's Monument, The Police Box, The Ross Fountain, The Royal Scots Greys Monument, The Royal Scots Memorial, The Scottish American Memorial, The Shelters, The Simpson Monument, The Robert Louis Stevenson Memorial and The Statuary Group, all in West Princes Street Gardens. The Allan Ramsay Monument was erected by Lord Murray of Henderland, in memory of his great uncle, the poet Allan Ramsay (father of the painter), author of the GENTLE SHEPHERD. The likeness is based on a pastel portrait which the poet's son drew as a boy, and which was engraved and used as a frontispiece to several editions of the poet's work, including the TEA-TABLE MISCELLANY. Joe Rock illustrates a photograph of a maquette by Steell for the statue. Portraits on the pedestal depict Lord Murray, his father General Ramsay,

From Historic Environment Scotland under OGL v3.