Glasgow's public statues

Public statues in Glasgow, the largest city in Scotland, have been used to display the wealth and history of the city over centuries. The most prominent are those erected by the municipality or by public subscription, but others adorn the façades of the great commercial buildings.

In the square proper are portrayals of more significant historical personages. In the northwest corner is the Rev Dr Norman Macleod, chaplain to Queen Victoria (1881–2), by John Mossman and cast by Cox & Son. (Macleod is also shown on the relief on Queen Victoria's statue in George Square, receiving her at the cathedral on her visit to Glasgow)

In the centre of the square is an impressive equestrian statue of William II of Scotland (William of Orange) as a Roman emperor. It was erected at Glasgow Cross in 1735, at the expense of James Macrae. Macrae had made his fortune in India and had been Governor of Madras. He named his estate near Prestwick (now the site of Glasgow Prestwick International Airport) "Orangefields", in further homage to the King, who was also Prince of Orange. The tail moves in a ball and socket, apparently to prevent it being broken by unruly persons during times of riot. It was moved to its present site in 1923.

St Paul, St Peter and the Four Evangelists, are to be seen on the facade of the Barony North (Glasgow Evangelical) Church to the east of the square – 1878-80 by McCulloch of London.

Nearby, Glasgow Necropolis, a "garden" cemetery opened in 1833, in imitation of Père Lachaise Cemetery in Paris has a number of statues associated with the funerary monuments of the rich and famous buried there. Most of these are private or religious statues, but the hilltop location is dominated by a large monument to John Knox erected in 1825. It consists of a 12 ft high statue of Knox, designed by Robert Forrest, atop a high Doric column by Thomas Hamilton.

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