Warships to whipped cream: Most popular sculptures of Trafalgar Square's Fourth Plinth

After every few years, a new sculpture is installed at Trafalgar Square's Fourth Plinth. The unveiling of the artwork was delayed by four months this year due to the coronavirus.

While the latest addition is the tallest sculpture till date, here are few of the most famous sculptures that have had a place at the Fourth Plinth.

Gift Horse

A sculpture of a strutting horse skeleton was unveiled in London's Trafalgar Square in May 2015, entitled "Gift Horse".  It was a bronze sculpture by a German-US artist Hans Haacke. The sculpture was 4.57-metre tall and weighed 1,700 kilograms (3,750 pounds).

Photo credit: Justin Tallis/Reuters

(Photograph:AFP)

Hahn/Cock

"Hahn/Cock", designed by German artist Katharina Fritsch, was unveiled in 2013. The all-blue sculpture is a fibreglass work that stood 4.72 metres (15.5 ft) high and was the sixth work to be displayed on the plinth.

It was later acquired by Glenstone, a private museum, and exhibited at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, DC, following its 2016 reopening..[1]

(Photograph:AFP)

Nelson’s Ship in a Bottle

"Nelson’s Ship in a Bottle" was unveiled at the Trafalgar Square in May 2010. The sculpture was a detailed, scaled-down replica of Nelson's flagship HMS Victory, on which the British hero died during the Battle of Trafalgar on 21 October 1805.

(Photograph:AFP)

Alison Lapper Pregnant

British artist Marc Quinn's sculpture, "Alison Lapper Pregnant", was the first in a series of commissions to be installed at the Trafalgar Square. The sculpture was a portrait of disabled artist Alison Lapper when she was eight months pregnant.

(Photograph:AFP)

Really good

Titled "Really Good" was nearly 23-foot-tall sculpture and was unveiled in a countdown by the public in September 2016. The sculpture was designed by  David Shrigley whoi wanted to represent optimism and positivity through this sculpture.

(Photograph:AFP)

The End

The latest sculpture was unveiled this week on Trafalgar Square. This year it is a giant swirl of whipped cream topped with a cherry, a fly and a drone. This is the tallest sculpture out of the 13 sculptures installed till date; it is 9.4 meter (30.8 feet) tall and has been designed by artist Heather Phillipson. "The End" will be displayed till 2022.

 

(Photograph:AFP)