Statue of Charles James Fox

The bronze figure you see seated at the north end of Bloomsbury Square is the statesman Charles James Fox. Sculpted by Sir Richard Westmacott and erected in 1816, the statue portrays the politician not as a standing orator, but sitting in a chair, draped in the traditional robes of a Roman senator. This unconventional pose was a calculated decision by the sculptor, as Fox was known for his corpulence, and his friends believed a standing portrait would have lacked the dignity they wished to convey. In his hand, he holds a copy of the Magna Carta, a deliberate nod to his reputation as a champion of civil liberties and his lifelong efforts to limit the influence of the monarchy.