Statue of an unknown covenanter

  • Photograph of the full sculpture- from the Dumfries Standard Newspaper 14 May 1884 - Taken by Joanne Turner, Curator at Dumfries Museum 13 May 2007

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  • The Shelter - Taken by Paul Goodwin 13 May 2007

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  • The Remaining Head - Taken by Paul Goodwin 13 May 2007

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Reference WMO/273795

Address:

Dumfries Museum

off Church Street

Dumfries

DG2 7AZ

Scotland

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Status: On original site
Type: Freestanding
Location: External
Setting: Inside a building - public/private
Description: Other sculpture
Materials:
  • Stone Sandstone
Lettering: No lettering
Conflicts:
  • Scottish Covenanters (1638-1687)
About the memorial: Sandstone statue of a covenanter, only the head portion now survives, formerly at the old Dr Grierson's Museum, Dr Grierson's Museum, Thornhill, in a shelter outside the Museum. It was originally in a private house in Dumfries. The sculptor was Mr John Currie, and the statue was likely to have been created sometime between 1840 and 1865. It was moved to Dr Grierson's museum, Thornhill in May 1884. "Statue of a Covenanter. Thornhill Museum - figure of a Covenanter - Dr Grierson's Museum has just been additionally enriched by a very effective piece of statuary, cut in red sandstone, by the late Mr John Currie, Dumfries, and which for twenty years or more adorned the grounds of a private residence in the neighbourhood of Dumfries. It represents a Covenanter of the Cameronian type, and the grave, stern, resolute cast of the face, combined with the pose of the form, bespeaks familiarity alike with both the Bible and the sword, and a readiness to play the Martyr's part if called upon. It was not intended by Mr Currie that the figure should individualise any particular Covenanter, though it has sometimes, we understand, been spoken of as intened for Richard Cameron. It certainly, however, conveys a good idea of what we would expect the nature of the man to be, who for conscience sake could dare openly to declare war against the King, as Cameron did at Sanquhar, and die resolutely "facing fearful odds" at Aird's Moss. The statue is of colossal proportions, being seven feet in height, and a substantial pedestal four feet high had been erected for it in the grounds of the Museum by Mr James Cook. It was placed in position on Friday last, under the skilful direction of Mr Dods, sculptor, Dumfries, and with the willing assistance of a numerous body of villagers. The task was no easy one, the statue weighing considerably over a ton, but it was successfully and speedily accomplished. The figure is so placed that it is displayed to great advantage. It was greatly admired by those assembled on the occasion; and it will be much prized in a district so full of stirring and sacred memories of the Covenanters. Dr Grierson, in thanking those who had assisted, said that when their children's children asked what meant those stones, they would be told that they represented one of the heroes of the liberty of Scotland, who had the boldness and determination in an age of oppression to vow allegiance to the God of Heaven rather than to the kings of earth, and whose blood mingled with that of the martyrs. (From the Dumfries Standard, of the 14th May 1884)" The condition of the small surviving part is Good, but most, as stated, is Lost
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