Image: Samuel Johnson Statue

Description: Statue of Dr Samuel Johnson in Lichfield Market Square, presented to the people of Lichfield in August 1838 by James Thomas Law, Chancellor of the Diocese. Dr Johnson was famous for writing the first English Dictionary. Samuel Johnson September 2009 is the 300th anniversary of Dr Johnson's birth. The statue is Grade II* listed. Statue of Dr Samuel Johnson. 1938. By Richard Cockle Lucas. Ashlar. Seated statue on plinth. Plinth has torus moulding to base; 3 sides with reliefs illustrating scenes from Johnson's life, influenced by Donatello's Schiacciato Relief (Pevsner p194); rear panel has inscription commemorating the gift of the statue by Dr James Thomas Law, Chancellor of the Diocese, with later plaque commemorating the 200th anniversary of Johnson's death. Seated figure of Johnson in academic robes, deep in thought, on a Greek Revival chair with books beneath. Dr Johnson, 1709-84, writer and critic, edited the dictionary for which he is chiefly remembered, one of the 2 great landmarks in the history of English dictionaries. (Buildings of England: Pevsner N: Staffordshire: London: 1974-: P.194; Drabble M: The Oxford Companion to English Literature: Oxford: 1985-: P.274, 513-5). Dr Johnson Statue, Lichfield - note: I think the listing text got the date of when it was wrong by about 100 years. They say 1938, it is was from 1838.
Title: Samuel Johnson Statue
Credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/ell-r-brown/3672680073/
Author: Elliot Brown
Usage Terms: Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0
License: CC BY-SA 2.0
License Link: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0
Attribution Required?: Yes