Border shepherds in plaid and bonnets 

‘The [Scott] monument could be a group of five figures of Border shepherds in plaid and bonnet. Above them would stand a colossal figure of Scott.’ This is a quote from The Claudians: gardens, landscapes, reason and faith: John Claudius Loudon and Claudius Buchanan, Tom Turner (Kindle, 2024). 

More about Ruskin’s tentative proposal for the Scott Monument 

Ruskin wrote that for the Walter Scott Memorial: ‘The only idea which strikes us as in the least degree tolerable is this; where the range of Salisbury Crags gets low and broken, towards the north, at about the point of equal elevation with St. Anthony's Chapel, let a bold and solid mass of mason-work be built out from the cliff, in grey stone, broken like natural rock, rising some four or five feet above the brow of the crag, and sloping down, not too steeply, into the bank below. This must be built fairly into the cliff to allow for disintegration. At the foot of this, let a group of figures, not more than five in number, be carved in the solid rock, in the dress of Border shepherds, with the plaid and bonnet (a good costume for the sculptor), in easy attitudes; sleeping perhaps, reclining at any rate. On the brow of this pedestal, let a colossal figure of Scott be placed, with the arms folded, looking towards the castle.’

The Temple of Abu Simbel in southern Egypt is the greatest western example of sculpture carved from living rock. Built by Pharaoh Ramesses II in the 13th century BCE, the temple features four colossal statues of the pharaoh seated at its entrance. The most famous subsequent example, in the west, is the sculpture at Mount Rushmore (1927-41) designed and carved by sculptor Gutzon Borglum and his son, Lincoln Borglum (after his father's death). The four presidents depicted on the mountain are: George Washington: First President, Thomas Jefferson: Third President, Theodore Roosevelt: 26th President, Abraham Lincoln: 16th President.

The practice of carving statues and entire temples from living rock is an ancient Indian tradition. In Hinduism, rock-cut architecture and sculpture dates to the 3rd century BCE. The rock itself is considered sacred, so carving statues from it is seen as an act of devotion, transforming the raw stone into a manifestation of the divine. Key examples are the Ellora Caves (Maharashtra, India) and Mahabalipuram (Tamil Nadu, India). 

In Buddhism, rock-cut sculpture grew from simple caves used by monks for meditation and shelter. Over time, this evolved into complex cave temples adorned with carvings depicting the Buddha, Bodhisattvas, and various deities. Key examples are the Ajanta Caves (Maharashtra, India) and the Bamiyan Buddhas (Afghanistan): Once the world's largest standing Buddha statues, these monumental carvings were hewn from the cliffs in the Bamiyan Valley, symbolising the presence of the Buddha watching over the landscape.

Ruskin’s Inspiration from Ancient Rock-Cut Monuments

John Ruskin’s proposal for the Scott Monument, with figures of Border shepherds carved into the rock, reflects his deep appreciation for ancient rock-cut architecture. This approach, reminiscent of the monumental carvings at Abu Simbel in Egypt and the intricate sculptures of India’s Ellora Caves, underscores Ruskin's belief in integrating art with nature. By suggesting that the shepherds and Scott himself be carved directly from the living rock of Salisbury Crags, Ruskin sought to create a monument that would harmonise with its natural surroundings while paying tribute to Scotland’s cultural heritage, drawing parallels with the spiritual and historical significance of ancient rock-cut temples.