This Bronze Sculpture Is a Life-Size Depiction of a Cowboy Riding a Horse

This Bronze Sculpture Is a Life-Size Depiction of a Cowboy Riding a Horse

This bronze sculpture is a life-size depiction of a cowboy riding a horse. It was sculpted by Constance Warren in the early 1900s as a tribute to the “rough and romantic riders of the range.” The Cowboy sculpture received an honorable mention at the Paris Salon, the once official art exhibition of Paris. The sculpture is currently installed next to the Texas State Capitol as a monument to the “native home of the cowboy” in Austin, Texas, USA.

A cowboy is an animal herder who tends cattle on ranches in North America, traditionally on horseback, and often performs a multitude of other ranch-related tasks. The historic American cowboy of the late 19th century became a figure of special significance and legend.

The cowboy has deep historic roots tracing back to the earliest European settlers of America.

Beginning in the 1920s and continuing to the present day, Western movies (movies devoted to telling stories set primarily in the latter half of the 19th century in the American West. The Western genre portrays the conquest of the wilderness and the subordination of nature in the name of civilization) popularized the cowboy lifestyle but also formed persistent stereotypes, both positive and negative. In some cases, the cowboy and the violent gunfights are often associated with one another. On the other hand, some actors who portrayed cowboys promoted positive values, such as the "cowboy code" that encouraged honorable behavior, respect and patriotism.

True or False

  1. The sculpture is about 60 years old
  2. The sculpture is in Washington
  3. Hollywood movies popularized the cowboy lifestyle
  4. Traditionally a cowboy is a violent gunfighter
  5. The American cowboy has deep historic roots

On July 24, 1952, the statue of Robin Hood was unveiled inNottinghamCastle, Nottingham, England.
500 people watched the ceremony, as the statue was revealed to the public, accompanied by a fanfare from the band of the Royal Lincolnshire Regiment.

Gifted to the city by local businessman Philip Clay, the impressive figure was intended to provide something tangible for visitors to see relating to Robin Hood, Nottingham's world-famous folk hero. But even the visionary Mr Clay would be surprised at the important role the statue has played over the past 60 years.
Throughout the last 60 years the statue has become an iconic image of Robin Hood that has graced the covers of hundreds of newspapers and magazines around the world – all giving valuable free publicity for the city.

Apart from the millions of visitors who have taken their traditional souvenir photo at the statue, it has also provided the ideal location for numerous celebrity photo shoots.

From the first female Prime Minister of the UK Margaret Thatcher who filmed a Conservative Party political broadcast there to nude model Alana Brownley who posednext to Robin for a Playboy magazine photo shoot.

The statue has appeared on the front page of the New York Times and the image has been copied and adapted thousands of times and often used by local companies to promote their goods and services. The statue has been pictured with a guitar around its neck to promote a rock concert and even wearing one of the trendy, coloured leather satchels that are sold at the local store.

True or False

  1. The statue of more than 100 years old
  2. The statue was gifted to the city by a local businessman
  3. The statue was unveiled on June 14
  4. Once the image of the statue was used to promote a rock concert
  5. The British Prime Minister posed next to the statue for the New York Times photo shoot

Complete the sentences

1……sculpted the Cowboy Statue as…..in the early 1900s

2. The statue of Robin Hood has appeared on…………around the world

3. Philip Clay gifted the statue to the city of Nottingham to provide…..

4. The Cowboy Statue is installed…….

5. The image of……… has been used by…….to promote their goods and services

6. The statue of Robin Hood has proved to be the ideal location for…

7. Robin Hood is Nottingham’s world-famous…………