With the unveiling of the controversial sculpture of Diana, Princess of Wales, on what would’ve been her 60th birthday (July 1), it’s time to reconsider the role of sculpture and other ornaments in the garden.

Created by Ian Rank-Broadley, the slightly larger-than-life-size statue depicts the princess in a long-sleeve blouse open at the throat, a wide belt and straight skirt with her arms outstretched, leading three idealized children of different races. It stands at one end of the Sunken Garden in London’s Kensington Palace, her home as a royal, which landscape architect Pip Morrison has delightfully renovated, filling it with roses, lavender, dahlias, sweet pea and forget-me-nots, Diana’s favorite, among other flowers.

Less successful in the minds of the blogosphere is the sculpture itself, which many think did not capture the princess’ sheer goddess-like quality – to say nothing of her actual face, figure and wardrobe. In fairness to Rank-Broadley, who is perhaps better known for his male nudes, it is hard for us to reconcile our heroic view of figurative outdoor sculpture – stoked as it is by classical antecedents, Italianate gardens and war memorials – with contemporary looks and fashions. There is something Soviet pedestrian about seeing suits in stone and/or metal. Indeed, the challenge of contemporary sculpture should help us rethink our own garden choices:

Style matters. When considering any outdoor piece, first consider what kind of home you have. What do you want the piece to say, as others may see it from the street? Many a beautiful, traditional home has been marred by the present trend of colored balls or strings of them hanging from trees. Similarly, a modern home would not be the best setting for a reproduction of the Apollo Belvedere or the Venus de Milo.
Size matters, too. Equally jarring are large pieces of sculpture or found objects like antique gas station pumps on a small piece of property with a small house. Conversely, a small statue will be overwhelmed by a large space.
Location, location, location. Objects need the right space to be seen properly. They can’t just be plonked down. They must be situated. One of the best examples of siting sculpture is Kykuit, the landmark Rockefeller family estate in Pocantico Hills. Every piece there – from the neoclassical sculptures of John D. Sr. and Jr.’s periods to the figurative and abstract modernist works of Nelson A.’s time – is perfectly placed to enhance a setting or complement the commanding Hudson River views, thereby also drawing attention to itself. (As restrictions ease, check out sculpture parks like Storm King Art Center in Mountainville, New York. Even if you’re only placing ceramic toadstools and frolicking glass squirrels, looking at art will help develop your eye.)
Material girls (and guys). Make sure the material your garden ornaments are made of are also complementary as well as weather-resistant. Bronze will develop a nice patina. Marble, though lovely, will definitely show the dirt. Proper care will give them and the garden lustrous drama when blooms and leaves give way to snow.
They call it “garden sculpture” for a reason. What kind of plantings will accompany your ornaments? Often you’ll see statues of the Virgin Mary surrounded by roses, one of her attributes. A bench might be flanked by urns filled with annuals. It’s telling that Pip Morrison chose to fill the garden containing the Diana statue with many of the flowers that offered her refreshment during her lifetime. Now with the addition of her likeness, it’s as if she can find solace and joy there forever.

Need assistance with your garden ornaments? We at Morano Landscape Garden Design are here to help.

July 2021

By Georgette Gouveia

Garden Sculptures