Figure of Admiral George Rodney 1782 - 1785

This lead figure of Admiral George Rodney was crafted by Pierre Stephan in the late 18th century. Rodney is immortalized here as a symbol of naval might, his figure posed confidently atop a cannon, itself a potent emblem of power and destruction. Consider how the image of the cannon has evolved. From its initial appearance as a straightforward instrument of war, it recurs in art across centuries as a symbol of masculine authority, and national strength. The cannon is strikingly similar to the phallus, embodying primal instincts of aggression and domination. Think, for example, of its appearance in Renaissance military prints celebrating victories, or even in 20th-century propaganda posters. This sculpture engages our collective memory, triggering associations with power, conflict, and the deep-seated psychological drives that propel human history. The image of a cannon represents not just a weapon but a complex interplay of cultural, historical, and psychological forces. Such symbols are continually reborn, reminding us of the cyclical nature of history and the enduring presence of our primal urges.