Robert Burns Memorial (Montreal)
Encyclopedia
The Robert Burns Memorial is a monument of sculptor G. A. Lawson
located at Dorchester Square
in Downtown Montreal
.
, a tribute to Montréal's Scottish industrialists and financiers, represents the socially conscious and refined romantic ideal of the community during the High Victorian Era. The memorial by G. A. Lawson
stands at the western entrance of Square Dorchester. Burns looks out towards the infinite expanse of Western Canada
, opened up by the rail and finance managed by the elites of the community.
The statue was a reproduction of the one which stands in Ayr
, near Burns’ birthplace, considered to be one of the finest depictions of Scotland's national poet.
The memorial was unveiled in the city’s downtown Dominion Square on October 18, 1930, a cold and rainy day. The speeches made that day emphasised that its erection was not only in honour of Burns's genius, but also to commemorate the impact of Scots on Montreal’s development.
On July 8, 2009, the official first shovelful of dirt was lifted in the $23-million project to restore Dorchester Square and Place du Canada
at 10 a.m. near the Boer War Memorial
monument.
The original memorial by G. A. Lawson
was inaugurated in Ayr
, in 1892. Replicas of Lawson's memorial were also erected in Melbourne
on 23 January 1904, Detroit on 23 July 1921, Vancouver
on 25 August 1928, and Winnipeg
in 1936.
G. A. Lawson
George Anderson Lawson was a Victorian era sculptor who was associated with the New Sculpture movement.Lawson was born in Edinburgh. He studied in Glasgow, and settled in London in 1866. His reputation was established through the creation of statues of distinguished citizens...
located at Dorchester Square
Dorchester Square
Dorchester Square is a large urban square in downtown Montreal. Together with Place du Canada, the area is just over 21,000 m2 or 2.1 ha of manicured and protected urban parkland bordered by René Lévesque Boulevard to the south, Peel Street to the west, Metcalfe to the east and Dominion Square to...
in Downtown Montreal
Downtown Montreal
Downtown Montreal is the central business district of Montreal, Quebec, Canada. It is nearly enitirely located at the southern most slope of Mount Royal and is approximately bounded by Sherbrooke Street to the north, Papineau Avenue to the east, Guy Street or until Shaughnessy Village to the west,...
.
Overview
The memorial to the Scottish poet Robert BurnsRobert Burns
Robert Burns was a Scottish poet and a lyricist. He is widely regarded as the national poet of Scotland, and is celebrated worldwide...
, a tribute to Montréal's Scottish industrialists and financiers, represents the socially conscious and refined romantic ideal of the community during the High Victorian Era. The memorial by G. A. Lawson
G. A. Lawson
George Anderson Lawson was a Victorian era sculptor who was associated with the New Sculpture movement.Lawson was born in Edinburgh. He studied in Glasgow, and settled in London in 1866. His reputation was established through the creation of statues of distinguished citizens...
stands at the western entrance of Square Dorchester. Burns looks out towards the infinite expanse of Western Canada
Western Canada
Western Canada, also referred to as the Western provinces and commonly as the West, is a region of Canada that includes the four provinces west of the province of Ontario.- Provinces :...
, opened up by the rail and finance managed by the elites of the community.
The statue was a reproduction of the one which stands in Ayr
Ayr
Ayr is a town and port situated on the Firth of Clyde in south-west Scotland. With a population of around 46,000, Ayr is the largest settlement in Ayrshire, of which it is the county town, and has held royal burgh status since 1205...
, near Burns’ birthplace, considered to be one of the finest depictions of Scotland's national poet.
The memorial was unveiled in the city’s downtown Dominion Square on October 18, 1930, a cold and rainy day. The speeches made that day emphasised that its erection was not only in honour of Burns's genius, but also to commemorate the impact of Scots on Montreal’s development.
On July 8, 2009, the official first shovelful of dirt was lifted in the $23-million project to restore Dorchester Square and Place du Canada
Place du Canada
Place du Canada is a large urban square in downtown Montreal.- Overview :At it is slightly larger than the adjacent Dorchester Square, with a more varied topography due to a downward slope towards De la Gauchetière Street...
at 10 a.m. near the Boer War Memorial
Boer War Memorial (Montreal)
The Boer War Memorial is a monument of sculptor George W. Hill located at Dorchester Square in Downtown Montreal.- Overview :The Boer War Memorial, sculpted by George W. Hill was unveiled at the Dominion Square on May 24, 1907...
monument.
The original memorial by G. A. Lawson
G. A. Lawson
George Anderson Lawson was a Victorian era sculptor who was associated with the New Sculpture movement.Lawson was born in Edinburgh. He studied in Glasgow, and settled in London in 1866. His reputation was established through the creation of statues of distinguished citizens...
was inaugurated in Ayr
Ayr
Ayr is a town and port situated on the Firth of Clyde in south-west Scotland. With a population of around 46,000, Ayr is the largest settlement in Ayrshire, of which it is the county town, and has held royal burgh status since 1205...
, in 1892. Replicas of Lawson's memorial were also erected in Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
on 23 January 1904, Detroit on 23 July 1921, Vancouver
Vancouver
Vancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
on 25 August 1928, and Winnipeg
Winnipeg
Winnipeg is the capital and largest city of Manitoba, Canada, and is the primary municipality of the Winnipeg Capital Region, with more than half of Manitoba's population. It is located near the longitudinal centre of North America, at the confluence of the Red and Assiniboine Rivers .The name...
in 1936.