Focus on this artwork and discuss the Description and history.
The bronze sculpture stands on a tall granite pedestal, creating a monument about 12 feet (3.7 m) high.  Napier is depicted standing, bareheaded, wearing military uniform with a cloak. He holds up his scabbard in his left hand, with a scroll in his right hand symbolising his governorship of Sind.  It was erected in 1855–6 by means of public subscriptions, the most numerous contributors being private soldiers.  It bears an inscription stating that Napier was "born in MDCCLXXXII and died LXXI years later in MDCCCLIII". It was quickly criticised as being one of the worst pieces of sculpture in England.A similar marble statue of Napier, also by George Gammon Adams, stands in the Crypt of St Paul's Cathedral, with Napier similarly in uniform and bearheaded, with his right hand resting on his sword and his left hand on his hip holding a scroll.In 1936 it was suggested that the statues of Generals Napier and Havelock in Trafalgar Square should be replaced by statues of Admirals Beatty and Jellicoe, the naval commanders at the Battle of Jutland in 1916, but a place was eventually found for bronze busts of the Edwardian admirals (and later for Admiral Cunningham) against the north wall of the square, without removing the statues of the Victorian generals from their plinths.
It became a Grade II listed building in 1970.  Trafalgar Square is itself Grade I listed.
In October 2000 the then Mayor of London Ken Livingstone suggested that the statues of Napier and Havelock should be removed from Trafalgar Square, because he didn't have any idea who they were.
George Gammon Adams listed building bronze sculpture Beatty Trafalgar Square Ken Livingstone Jellicoe Admiral Cunningham Havelock Battle of Jutland London Mayor of London St Paul's Cathedral