ARTISTIC ALLEGORY
WELLINGTON GROUPS. ? PENDING DESTRUCTION. Probably the two finest specimens of architectural sculpture in Wellington are about to be destroyed. These are the allegorical groups in the Town Hall pediments on the Cuba and Wakefield Streets frontages,, doomed to destruction in connection with the demolition work now in progress at the Town Hall. These groups were by the hand of Mr. C. Herdman Smith, the skilful instructor in modelling and sculpture at the Wellington Technical College 30 years ago.
The group on the Cuba Street pediment consists of three larger than life figures—lndustry (or Labour), depicted as a bare-armed and aproned blacksmith, clasping hands with Commerce, a female figure, while with outstretched wings behind the two stands the angelic figure of Peace. High above, resting on the apex of the pediment, ’a full relief, is a concrete and steel model of the city’s coat-of-arms, which, with a little care, might be preserved. On the Wakefield Street side the group represents Agriculture, a seated female figure bearing a sheaf of corn, and Transport, another female nursing the model of a vessel.
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Bibliographic details
Taranaki Daily News, 17 August 1934, Page 5
Word Count
181ARTISTIC ALLEGORY Taranaki Daily News, 17 August 1934, Page 5
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