The Dying Man
This shocking statue is referred to as "The Dying Man", and is located in Parham Gardens in West Sussex. The man is inscribing the name of his murderer in the sand. The statue was exhibited at the Great Dublin Exhibition in the late 19th century. The inscription behind the left leg reads "L. Amigoni (or perhaps L'Amigoni?), Bergamo 1857".
The statue startles you as it comes into view, but what's even more disturbing is the red algae residue which looks exactly like dried blood or red paint, which inhabits creases and crevices in the base of the marble sculpture. I wasn't sure if it had been used in some sort of dark ritual when I first saw the red colour settled in its crevices.
Although it is obviously comparable to the Dying Gaul - unquestionably one of the best statues in the world - "The Dying Man" holds its own, and should really be in a museum in a protected environment, despite the significant grace it brings to the exceptionally lovely walled gardens at Parham.
