Statue of Atlas approximately 250m south-east of Wrest Park House

MATERIALS: Portland Stone with stone base and plinth.

DESCRIPTION: this statue is understood to represent the Greek god Atlas, who is portrayed as a stooping figure with the globe bearing down on his shoulders and held in place by his hands. A long garland of drapery hangs over his left shoulder which falls to a tree stump behind his left leg; the other end passing across his chest to join to his right. Atlas is conceived as a muscular figure with a strongly formed face, large nose and thick beard and hair. The drapery emphasises his nakedness and a small hole cut into the stone just above his pubic hair is thought to be the residual hole from a C19 addition of a fig leaf. The base is naturalistic with a secondary base beneath. The latter appears to be of sandstone, roughly moulded into a Torus moulding and is almost certainly a later addition. The pedestal is thought to be C19 with curved corners on the moulded cap and base; a square die and the whole raised on a masonry plinth. The statue is weathered; the hands and feet have lost a considerable amount of detail. There are earthworks indicating that a pond previously surrounded this statue, but has since silted up.