Thread by @inner_temple

Today is #HeritageTreasures Day and to mark this occasion we shall tell you the story of one of the Inner Temple's treasures. A rather fetching flying horse. Pull up a chair and we shall begin ...

The ‘Flying Horse’ is a white marble relief sculpture of the Inner Temple’s Pegasus emblem. Walking around the Temple you will see a number of carvings of the Pegasus (some flying others not), but this one has a particular story to tell.

Originally commissioned in 1737 it has enjoyed time in the spotlight, fallen into relative obscurity, been rediscovered to much fanfare, had a near-death experience, and along the way collected some very notable fans.

The story begins (like so many stories) with the disposal of an unauthorised horse.

Commissioned to adorn the entrance to the Inner Temple Hall, the flying horse in its first manifestation was removed by order of the Bench Table.

“The flying horse lately set up to be taken down forthwith and the mason or carver employed to dispose of the horse, it having been put up without consulting or showing the Building Committee any model for the same." 16 August 1737, Calendar of Inner Temple Records

The Bench Table minutes continue ...
"Mr Rysbrack to be desired to prepare a model of a flying horse to be placed over the door case instead of the horse now ordered to be pulled down.”

The Mr Rysbrack in question is sculptor John Michael Rysbrack (1694-1770) originally from Antwerp but a London resident since 1720. His works include busts of Alexander Pope and George II and the monument to Sir Isaac Newton at Westminster Abbey.

The Committee, satisfied with the model produced, awarded Rysbrack the commission and a fee of £100.

“Mr Rysbrack’s model of a flying horse approved of by several of the Masters of the Bench, to be cut out of a block of the best white marble” – 6 December 1737, Calendar of the Inner Temple Records

The Flying Horse was in place over the Southern entrance to the old Hall from 1739 until 1816, when considerable work was done to the Hall under the direction of Sir Robert Smirke.

Essayist, poet, author and rather famous resident of the Inn, Charles Lamb mourned the removal of the Flying Horse in an essay published in the London Magazine in 1821.

Entitled The Old Benchers of the Inner Temple, Lamb is highly critical of the new gothic style of the new refurbishments.

"They have lately gothicised the entrance to the Inner Temple-hall, and the library front [...] What is become of the winged horse that stood over the former? a stately arms! [...] They must account to me for these things, which I miss so greatly."

In 1871 the Flying Horse resurfaced in the staircase turret of the old Library building. Keeping a low profile and even painted over on a number of occasions, there he remained.🙁

Until ... 1933 when it was recognised as the work of Rysbrack by British Art Historian Katherine Esdaile.

The Flying Horse was removed from the turret staircase and the layers of paint were removed an "arduous business" by all accounts.

By January of 1936 it was back in place over the entrance to the Hall (this time the Northern entrance). Its reinstatement was big enough news to make The Times.

"In 1816 the Flying Horse is thrown out. It would have served them right if he had taken wing and never come back. But nearly 120 years later he is recognised by an expert, like some god from Olympus humbly serving on earth in the Dark Ages, ...

...or a thoroughbred daubed in patches and doing tricks in a circus ; very soon after that the pain is washed off him and he is restored to ancient honour." The Times, 16 January 1936

However, the story does not end there. The Flying Horse’s time above the Northern entrance to the Hall was relatively short-lived. The bombing of the Temple in WWII destroyed the Inner Temple Hall.

Fortunately and perhaps rather miraculously the Rysbrack Pegasus survived!

In 1957 the Flying Horse was installed over the Benchers' Entrance to the Treasury Building, where it remained for many years.

During the Project Pegasus refurbishments which began in 2019, the Flying Horse was on the move again. This time its removal was carefully assessed by conservationists and a specially constructed scaffold was erected to bear its anticipated weight (400-800kg!).

Here it is in storage

The Flying Horse now has pride of place on the main staircase so everyone can enjoy it.

And there ends the story of the Flying Horse (for now at least)

small correction here: this is a photograph of the magnificent Flying Horse at the conservators not in storage (as previously stated).