Statuary Group in Burns Mausoleum, Dumfries, 1936

A monochrome photographic print of the statuary group by Hermon Crawthra showing Burns at the plough which was unveiled in 1936.   The original statuary group in the mausoleum was designed and worked by Peter Turnerelli. It depicted 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.   By the early 1900s it had begun to show signs of deterioration and there was a movement to replace the statuary and to renovate the mausoleum. The sculptor, Hermon Cawthra was selected and the new statuary group was unveiled on the 19th September 1936.   This photograph of the replacement statuary group has been taken shortly after its installation in the newly renovated mausoleum. It is by Simon Reid, an accomplished local photographer, who had a studio in Castle Street, Dumfries.