This is one of our favourite local sculptures, ‘Aphrodite’ created by Allan Howes in 1952. She is the goddess of love with a dolphin beneath her, 6.5 feet tall and weighs 1.5 tons of Portland Stone.
It is such a sensuous study and the stone provides a soft texture, giving the body a natural and relaxed pose.
It is set in a magical place, the Richmond Hill Terrace Gardens overlooking the Thames below.
But it wasn’t always loved, in fact in 1952 when it was first put in place, it caused a sensation, an outcry against it from councillors and people of Richmond. It was said that it was an insult to the human form, disturbing to gentlemen and children should be kept from looking and was given a nickname of ‘Bulbous Betty’.
There is a good article in The Green - A Nation of Prudes on the furore caused at the time.
Edgar Allan Howes was born in East Dereham, Norfolk. Howes studied at the Royal Academy Schools, where he won the Landseer scholarship, and then at the Slade School of Art. From the early 1920s Howes exhibited regularly at the Royal Academy and in smaller group shows in London galleries. A bronze group of a 'Madonna of the Lily' was purchased from the Royal Academy in 1926 by the Queen. He exhibited at both the Paris Salon and the Royal Academy.
She is beautiful and calming and in a perfect location. We are very fortunate to have her.
