The politics of public monuments: parliamentary commissions of monuments for Westminster Abbey in 1798

A shift in parliamentary commissioning of monuments from Westminster Abbey to St Paul’s Cathedral marked the transition towards establishing a national mausoleum for military and naval heroes, with Admiral Lord Nelson's memorial in 1805 symbolizing this change. This study examines the pivotal period around 1798, analyzing the political dynamics behind the commissioning of monuments by John Flaxman and John Bacon the Elder, and its implications for Westminster Abbey’s role and the development of British sculpture. The research focuses on the process and significance of these commissions, highlighting how parliamentary decisions reshaped national memorialization practices.

Jenkins, S. (2021). The politics of public monuments: parliamentary commissions of monuments for Westminster Abbey in 1798. Sculpture Journal, 30(1), 9–29. https://doi.org/10.3828/sj.2021.30.1.2