Commissioned by the Earl of Burlington, Alexander Pope, Dr Richard Mead, and Tom Martin.

The carved heads of Queen Elizabeth I, Henry V and Richard III appear on the base of a pedestal. The figure of the poet, about 5 feet 6 inches in height, stands with his right leg crossed in front of his left, leaning his elbow on a pile of three books (they have no titles). A chaplet (wreath of bays, signifying immortality) with a dagger (symbol of tragedy) and a dramatic mask are also shown above the head of Richard III.  The group is in front of a pedimented architectural frame. William’s left hand index finger points to a scroll hanging from the pedestal on which are painted a variant of Prospero’s lines from The Tempest.

Inscription on the memorial to William Shakespeare reads in Latin: ‘William Shakespeare, erected 124 years after his death by public esteem.’ Accompanied by a scroll reading ‘Cloud capp’d towers’ etc from The Tempest. English added 1977.

Read more at the Westminster Abbey website 

Monument (statue)