Doesn’t this statue of David Balfour and Alan Breck Stewart standing side by side facing south command attention? This is the Robert Louis Stevenson memorial Statue. It commemorates the famed author. Robert Louis Stevenson was born in Edinburgh in 1850. He penned the adventurous “Kidnapped” in 1886. The book features characters and circumstances inspired by real people and places.
David Balfour and Alan Breck Stewart were two such individuals. The story concludes with them bidding farewell. Their parting happens at “Rest and Be Thankful” on Corstorphine Hill. Perhaps this explains the statue’s location. It stands on a busy road outside Edinburgh’s city center.
Alexander “Sandy” Stoddart designed the statue. Stoddart is a prolific Scottish artist. He has created numerous public works throughout Scotland. These include the effigy of David Hume. Sir Sean Connery unveiled the Robert Louis Stevenson memorial Statue in 2004. Connery was another legendary Edinburgh citizen. Once, the grounds nearby housed Balfour Stewart House. This was the headquarters of a brewing company. It was demolished in 2008.
The statue is 15 feet tall. Alan Breck Stewart is slightly taller than David Balfour. Interestingly, Stevenson reportedly didn’t want statues of himself after his death. Despite this, another statue of the author was erected in 2013. It stands in Colinton Parish Church. This location inspired his collection “A Child’s Garden of Verses”.
Alexander Stoddart’s neoclassical style shines in this bronze statue. Exquisite detail marks his work. This contrasts with modern smooth art. Stoddart’s other Edinburgh sculptures include Hume and Smith on the High Street. He also created James Clerk Maxwell on George Street. Also there is Playfair outside the National Museum of Scotland.
David Balfour is a naive lad in “Kidnapped”. He navigates the world. His uncle outsmarts him. He feels awe and fear of the Highlanders. Through Alan Breck Stewart, Balfour matures. He respects the Highlanders and their ways. Balfour becomes heroic and competent. He outwits his uncle and claims his inheritance.
The Robert Louis Stevenson memorial Statue shows great detail. The engraving on Breck’s pistol is visible. Balfour’s claymore is also clear. The braiding on their jackets stands out. Their clothes seem to flutter. It is as if they stepped from a Hollywood period drama.
A bronze bas relief of Stevenson sits on the pedestal. The simple inscription reads “1850 Robert Lovis 1894 Stevenson”. A bronze plaque states the memorial depicts characters from “Kidnapped”. It notes Alan Breck Stewart and David Balfour parted near this spot. Sir Sean Connery unveiled it. Scottish and Newcastle plc supported the project in September 2004.
The statue is next to the “Western Corner” bus stop. It is near Ellersly Road and Western Terrace on the A8. Several bus lines pass by. This includes the 100 Airlink Bus. The statue is always visible. Parking is best on Ellersly Road due to traffic.
Robert Louis Stevenson died in Samoa in 1894. Locals knew him as “Tusitala”. This means “Writer of Tales”. They buried him on Mount Vaea. A tomb was placed there later. Stevenson’s legacy lives on globally. “Treasure Island” and “Jekyll and Hyde” remain popular. This Robert Louis Stevenson memorial Statue ensures his memory endures here in Edinburgh too.