Jupiter Statue In The Botanical Gardens

The statue depicts Jupiter, created between 1835 and 1838 by the mason John Osborne (died 1838). It is a colossal limestone bust, approximately one meter high, portraying a bearded man with hair tied with fillets and bare shoulders. The bust sits on a stepped, south-facing plinth designed in 1861 by James Wilson and carved by H Treasure. The plinth is approximately six meters high and 1.5 meters square at its base, featuring a keystone motif in the center. There is no inscription on the monument.

John Osborne, of humble birth, trained in the studio of John Bacon junior. He carved the head of Jupiter, alongside a statue of the Goddess of Sculpture, which prompted Walter Savage Landor to compare it favorably to the works of Michelangelo and Thorwaldsen. These sculptures did not elevate Osborne's reputation during his lifetime, but they constituted his widow's assets upon his death. The bust was subsequently purchased by the Corporation of Bath for £100. While Thomas Barker initially planned the plinth, the design was revised in 1861 when Alderman Bush commissioned James Wilson to create a new pedestal, ultimately leading to the monument’s completion.

This sculpture is a significant example of Romantic creative inspiration and a rare instance of colossal Neo-classical sculpture crafted from Bath stone, demonstrating its suitability for monumental work. The statue is located within the Royal Victoria Park, which was laid out in 1830 on former common land called Barton Fields. The park was opened on October 23rd, 1830, by the Duchess of Kent and her daughter, Princess Victoria, marking it as the country’s first municipal park. The bust is positioned within a former quarry to the northwest of the park, which was laid out by Sir Jerom Murch.