A Conversation with Oscar Wilde

A Conversation with Oscar Wilde (detail)

Category: Sculpture

Artist: Maggi Hambling

Subject: Sculpture

Year of Work: 1998

Media: bronze & granite

Size: 134.50cm x 96.50cm x 287cm

Maggi Hambling's work is the only public monument to Oscar Wilde in Great Britain. In 1997, Maggi Hambling was commissioned to create a statue to commemorate Oscar Wilde. The commission resulted in an exhibition of related work at the National Portrait Gallery. Situated in Adelaide Street, behind the Church of St. Martin-in-the-Fields, Trafalgar Square, "A Conversation with Oscar Wilde" was unveiled by Chris Smith, Minister for the Arts, on 30th November 1998.

"Jeremy Isaacs had promised Derek Jarman that he would somehow make a memorial statue of Wilde a reality, as, amazingly, no such thing existed. Just before Christmas 1995 twelve artists were asked to submit ideas on paper. I became obsessed with Wilde again. Having delivered my maquette, I went on drawing him, painting him, making more sculpture of him." From "Maggi Hambling, the Works", available from this website, see 'Publications for Sale'.

The sculpture aroused a furore in the press. It was on every TV news bulletin on the day of unveiling and pundits of varying sorts and persuasions pontificated at great length about art, homosexuality and smoking.

Maggi Hambling with her sculpture 'A Conversation with Oscar Wilde'

A Conversation with Oscar Wilde

author: iapmag

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A Conversation with Oscar Wilde