Shaftesbury Memorial Fountain unveiled at Piccadilly Circus

Background. The Shaftesbury Memorial Fountain was erected in 1892–93 to commemorate Anthony Ashley Cooper, 7th Earl of Shaftesbury, a Victorian politician and philanthropist known for replacing child labour with school education. A committee chaired by the Lord Mayor of London announced statues to honor the Earl. The fountain is located at the southeastern side of Piccadilly Circus, overlooking Shaftesbury Avenue.

Sculptural Identity. The fountain is surmounted by a winged statue of Anteros, the god of requited love, often mistakenly called Eros. Anteros is depicted similarly to Eros but with long hair and plumed butterfly wings. Sculptor Alfred Gilbert chose to reproduce Anteros as 'The God of Selfless Love' to represent the philanthropic Earl suitably. The statue was the first in the world to be cast in aluminium.

Unveiling Context. The memorial was officially opened at Piccadilly Circus in London in 1893. The unveiling was performed by Hugh Grosvenor, 1st Duke of Westminster, on 29 June 1893. Alfred Gilbert, who created the fountain, was a member of the Royal Academy of Arts in 1892. His personal life was unraveling due to debt and his wife's mental health issues.