Mighty Hunter Sculpture

Amidst the tranquil beauty of Queen Mary’s Gardens, a small, unassuming sculpture captures the timeless struggle between predator and prey. This is the Mighty Hunter, a bronze statue created by Albert Hodge in 1913. The Mighty Hunter depicts a putto, a cherubic child from classical art, locked in a surprisingly intense battle with a duck. The putto, clad only in a simple belt, draped cloth, and sandals with ornate leggings, strains to hold the duck aloft. The duck, wings outstretched and beak wide open, fights desperately to escape its captor’s grasp. The Mighty Hunter wasn’t always a resident of Queen Mary’s Gardens. Originally, the sculpture was commissioned by the painter Sigismund Goetze for his private home. It was created as a companion piece to another sculpture known as The Lost Bow. In 1939, after the gardens underwent a significant redesign overseen by Superintendent Duncan Campbell, Goetze generously gifted the Mighty Hunter to the park. The redesign included exciting additions like a theatre and a cafe, creating a vibrant cultural hub. This gift was part of a larger philanthropic effort by Goetze, who donated numerous features to Queen Mary’s Gardens. His wife continued this tradition after his death through her Constance Fund, enriching London’s green spaces. The artist, Albert Hodge, had an interesting career trajectory. He began his training in Glasgow as an architect but found his true calling in architectural sculpture. Hodge collaborated with prominent architects on prestigious projects, including contributions to the Victoria and Albert Museum and the Glamorgan County Hall in Cardiff. He also crafted reliefs for the Robert Burns monument in Stirling. So, the next time you stroll through Queen Mary’s Gardens, take a moment to appreciate the Mighty Hunter. It’s a charming reminder of the dynamic interplay between nature and art, hidden in plain sight within the bustling city.