Robert Burns statue

Public Art : Robert Burns statue, also known as Robert Burns Memorial

Sculptor : © Samuel William Ward Willis

Date : 1929

Description : Bronze statue of Scottish poet leaning on a plough with his faithful dog at his feet. Wearing a hat and waistcoat, Burns looks rather relaxed standing high on the carved sandstone plinth. Bronze plaques decorate each side of the plinth and depict scenes from Robert Burns' poems.

Location : Centenary Place, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia

Inscription :

Background of Robert Burns: Robert Burns will probably be best remember for his poem Auld Lang Syne, which we sing to bring in each new year. Burns was born Robert Burness ,in a wee village in Scotland called Alloway. The eldest of seven children he was not born with a silver spoon in his mouth, in fact Burns grew up in abject poverty.  However being poor and the son of a peasant farmer did not deny a young Burns of an education. His father taught the children the basic reading, writing and arithmatic before hiring a local teacher to tutor the intentive and smart young pupil. Though Burns grew up to be a successful poet and lyricist, he poured his money back into farming, despite his continued failures. A proud Scots, he spent a good deal of time adapting and revising old Scottish folks songs, which otherwise would have disappeared over time (Auld Lang Syne was one of them). It was his use of a light Scots dialect which endeared him to his fellow countrymen and beyond. Unfortunately for Burns, poverty would follow him throughout his life, as too would his often scandalous love life. Following his death at the age of 37 from bacterial endocarditis (rheumatic fever) he became a great source of inspiration to the founders of both liberalism and socialism. Burns died in poverty and a memorial edition of his poems was published to raise money for his wife and children.

The poet was also known as Rabbie Burns, Scotland's favourite son, the Ploughman Poet, the Bard of Ayrshire and in Scotland as simply "The Bard".

Other Robert Burns Statues and Memorials :

         Melbourne

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