I am a sucker for the Albert Memorial, particularly glimpsed in the distance, surrounded by trees and greenery and unkempt grass, gleaming with grandiose ostentation. My mother would have dismissed it with contempt. In fact, I can hear her whisper ‘absolutely hideous’ in my ear. I don’t care. There’s something magnificent about that moment of Victorian imperial confidence which allowed Prince Albert to be surrounded by statuary representative of the four corners of the globe:-
| Charles | Saumarez | Smith | 
How right you are ! It is particularly striking in the evening light and at night, standing proud.
It may stand for Empire, and Monarchy and other values that are no longer politically correct, but it is tremendous, and Albert was an amazing man. His Royal Fine Art Commission, and his support for Pugin, transformed the then-new Houses of Parliament (giving opportunities to Hardman and Crace). And without him we would not have the Albert Hall and the cluster of museums in South Kensington in their present configuration.
but Charles’ mother certainly had a point. Do you remember what a drek and miserable thing it used to be. Pigeon splattered, bits falling off and no gilding to be seen. It does rely on its magnificence more than its form. Whereas its neighbour the Kentian pavilion a couple of hundred yards to the north has remained sublime despite pigeons tramps and neglect.
Dear Christopher, Yes, I thought of you as I walked past Albert Hall Mansions. Charles