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Burns

Robert Burns

Burns Mausoleum, Dumfries, c 1910

Period:
20th Century
Description:

A hand tinted monochrome photographic print of the mausoleum in St Michael's Churchyard.

 

Robert Burns was originally buried in a simple grave, marked only by a plain stone slab. In 1803 when Dorothy and William Wordsworth visited Dumfries they had difficulty in even finding the grave. Burns' admirers came to believe that this was an insufficient memorial to the poet.

 

In 1813 his friend, John Syme, formed a committee and launched an appeal to build a mausoleum in his memory. One of the subscribers was the Prince Regent, later George IV. After a public advertisement, over 50 designs were received and the plans of T F Hunt, a London architect were approved.

 

The statuary group which is within the mausoleum was designed and worked by Peter Turnerelli. It depicts Burns' own conception of "Coila", representing the Ayrshire district of Kyle where he was born, throwing her inspiring mantle over the poet as he works at the plough.

Dimensions:
width: 113 mm, length: 153 mm
Source:
Dumfries Museum & Camera Obscura
Accession number:
Photograph, PEOPLE, Robert Burns / 8
Digital Number:
DMBN069n
Creation Date:
c 1910
Copyright:
Dumfries & Galloway Council