The sculpture “Ariel and Prospero” by Eric Gill is a stone carving that adorns the entrance to the BBC’s Broadcasting House, exemplifying the Art Deco movement. As a genre, it is a sculpture, with its stylized lines and forms reflecting the aesthetic preferences of the period when it was created.
In the artwork, two figures are intricately carved into a solid block of stone, one towering above the other. The upper figure, representing Prospero, the famed character from Shakespeare’s “The Tempest,” is depicted with a long beard and a stoic expression, signifying wisdom and authority. He is seen clutching a book, which aligns with the character’s association with knowledge and the magic arts. Beneath him is Ariel, a sprite or airy spirit also from “The Tempest,” shown here in a submissive posture, looking up towards Prospero. Ariel’s form is captured in a more fluid and ethereal manner, emphasizing his supernatural and fleeting nature as compared to the firm and grounded appearance of Prospero.
The sculpture’s features are simplified, yet the forms are expressive, conveying the dynamic relationship between the two characters. The vertical composition and the figures’ positioning make use of the architectural space, while the smooth surfaces and clean curves are indicative of the Art Deco style. By selecting these characters from Shakespeare’s play, the sculpture likely intends to symbolize the transmission of knowledge and culture through the medium of broadcasting, with which the BBC is fundamentally associated.
