Introduction
Lee was a London sculptor who had worked in the studio of John Birnie Philip (one of the sculptors involved with the Albert Memorial). He was originally commissioned to design 28 panels around the base of the hall, but less than half were completed, and not all by Lee himself. Problems started with the first panel, one of a projected series of six showing "The Attributes and Results of Justice": it caused a furore, because "the child Justice" was nude — as was "the girl Justice" in the next panel (see Cavanagh 260-61). Lee was eventually allowed to continue that series, which is to the left of the central portico, and also designed two in a different series to the right of the portico.
Works
The Progress of Justice series of bas reliefs on Saint George's Hall, Liverpool
- Justice as a child of the poor, led by Understanding into the way of Wisdom. Joy following . . .
- Justice in her purity refuses to be diverted from the straight path by Riches and Fame
- Justice, having attained maturity, upholds the world, supported by Knowledge and Right
- Justice, able to stand alone, administers by the Sword
- Justice, relieved of her sword by Virtue, and of her scales by Concord
- Justice receives the kiss of Righteousness
The National Progress series on Saint George's Hall
- Liverpool by her shipwrights builds vessels of commerce
- Liverpool, a fishing village, gives her sons the boat and the net
Bibliography
Cavanagh, Terry. The Public Sculpture of Liverpool. Liverpool: Liverpool University Press, 1996.
Read, Benedict. Victorian Sculpture. New Haven and London: Yale University Press, 1982.
Last modified 12 April 2013