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Virtues - Pursuit

Erection date: 25/11/1952

Fred Hoyle became known for his original, even controversial, approach to his topic. Here, to observe the glittering, swirling, celestial bodies, rather than use the observatory to the left, he has chosen to shimmy up a nearby spire. He carries a mortar board, referring to his close association with St John's College, Cambridge. The spire may represent one of the four turrets on the tower of St John's College Chapel.

Site: National Gallery - Anrep mosaics - Virtues (15 memorials)

WC2, Trafalgar Square, National Gallery - Staircase Hall - North Vestibule

See National Gallery - Anrep mosaics - Muses for general information about these mosaic floors.

The 1954 'Modern Virtues' is in a style very different from that of the earlier 'Muses' floor, with scenes depicted inside frames which carry each scene’s title. These panels appear to be laid on a mosaic floor with a geometric pattern, on which autumnal leaves have fallen – trompe l'oeil in mosaic.

This 'Modern Virtues' floor was gifted (which we take to mean funded) by Maud Russell and opened on 25 November 1952.

To avoid database clutter we have put the Creator links on just the page for the Anrep panel.

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This section lists the subjects commemorated on the memorial on this page:
Virtues - Pursuit

Subjects commemorated i

Fred Hoyle

Sir Fred Hoyle FRS was an astronomer who held some controversial views. He co...

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This section lists the other memorials at the same location as the memorial on this page:
Virtues - Pursuit

Also at this site i

Virtues - Anrep

Virtues - Anrep

Carved at the top of the gravestone is a portrait of Anrep himself. The image...

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Virtues - Compassion

Virtues - Compassion

Anna Akhmatova, looking towards Anrep's gravestone (in another panel) and sur...

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Virtues - Compromise

Virtues - Compromise

We initially thought this odd scene may refer to one of Loretta Young's films...

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Virtues - Curiosity

Virtues - Curiosity

Lord Rutherford wears a coronet - he had been raised to the peerage in 1931. ...

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Virtues - Defiance

Virtues - Defiance

In front of the white cliffs of Dover Winston Churchill, in his signature sir...

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