Is this the real David Hume?

Submitted by edg on Mon, 5 Jul '10 11.02pm

An EdinburghGuide.com visitor has suggested that we have the wrong David Hume in a photograph on this page.

"I believe the statue is of David Hume who is a significant figure in the history of Scots Law (hence the choice of its location)" writes our correspondent.

It's an interesting hypothesis since the statue is particularly prominent, being on the Royal Mile, near Edinburgh City Chambers.

 

Our correspondent has had a change of view - writing back to say that we had labelled the statue correctly all along. In signing-off there does appear to be a residue of doubt, though, about the likeness of the statue:

"I do find the statue very misleading... it bears absolutely no resemblance to David Hume the philosopher as we know him from portraits."

But then this is an impression of the philosopher created in a classical, heroic tradition. Incidentally, the statue is a recent addition to the Royal Mile streetscape. It was unveiled on St. Andrew's Day, 30 November 1997 by Professor Sir Stewart Sutherland, Principal and Vice Chancellor of the University of Edinburgh. The Saltire Society commissioned sculptor Alexander ‘Sandy’ Stoddart to make it. It was cast at the Powderhall Bronze Foundry.