La Belle Sauvage by Stephen Glass
A charming picture of La Belle Sauvage taken by Stephen Glass in the mid 1950s. From the orginal negative. Model unknown.
Somewhat of topic, it was around about this time that the publishers Cassell, who were founded in 1852 at La Belle Sauvage Yard, Ludgate Hill, commissioned a nude statue of Princess Pocahontas by David McFall for their new premises at Red Lion Square. This larger than life statue graced the entrance of their headquarters. As Cassell’s fortunes waned the firm moved from their imposing offices on Red Lion Square taking the statue with them. It is thought to have been sold at auction in 1996 to a private collector, which is rather a shame. I think central London could do with a delightful statue of Pocahontas.
Pocahontas was the daughter of the Indian Chief Powhatan. She married John Rolfe, a tobacco planter and travelled to England with her husband in 1616, where she was received as royalty. She captivated the London society. Whilst preparing to return to America, she became ill with smallpox and died in Gravesend, where she is burried, in March 1617.
