The cathedral had hoped for some years to give Austen a fitting tribute as a sculpture, Dean Ogle said. \u201cThe opportunity has now arisen with a significant number of private donors and small grant providers keen to see in place the splendid and sensitive design by the acclaimed sculptor Martin Jennings. These funds are restricted by the donors to this project only.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe recognise that, at a time of cost inflation for so many people, of anxiety about the future, and conflict in society, the idea of bringing to fruition a statue of arguably Britain\u2019s greatest literary figure could be seen as frivolous. Funding for the arts, be it for sculpture or any other medium, is always open to question, which we understand.<\/p>\n
\u201cHowever, with the enthusiastic support of our private donors and the wider benefit it will bring to Winchester, Hampshire, and many of the Austen fans nationally and worldwide, we consider this project should proceed.\u201d<\/p>\n
Read it all<\/a>.<\/p>\n Winchester Cathedral has revealed the preliminary design of a proposed statue of Jane Austen, commissioned from the figurative sculptor Martin Jennings, to mark the 250th anniversary in 2025 of the novelist\u2019s birth https:\/\/t.co\/IcWSRjmVlv<\/a><\/p>\n — Church Times (@ChurchTimes) March 5, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n \n