Augustus John statue

Statue of Augustus John OM, RA, in bronze on a limestone plinth, 1964-7 by Ivor Roberts-Jones, situated on the east bank of the river Avon, Fordingbridge, Hampshire.

This over-life size statue, 1.9m in height, depicts the artist Augustus John in old age. Bearded, barefoot and dressed in simple clothes, the figure has a striding or lurching gait, his arms held outwards and hands clenched in a purposeful manner. The hands and head are heavily modelled and the expression is one of driving, perhaps impatient, energy. The sculpture is mounted on a bronze base and a limestone plinth inscribed ‘AUGUSTUS JOHN OM RA / SCULPTED BY / IVOR ROBERTS JONES CE RA’. On the obverse is ‘FORDINGBRIDGE 1928–1961’, and ‘PAINTER’ and ‘1878–1961’ are inscribed on each side.