Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All the United Kingdom Scotland Edinburgh 'The Manuscript of Monte Cassino'

'The Manuscript of Monte Cassino'

This sculpture of disembodied body parts forms a poignant memory of the horrors of World War II.

Edinburgh, Scotland

Added By
linkogecko
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
CAPTION
The foot.   linkogecko / Atlas Obscura User
  honeytea / Atlas Obscura User
  jyackabonis / Atlas Obscura User
  rbenn250 / Atlas Obscura User
Latin quote at the base of the foot.   linkogecko / Atlas Obscura User
The hand.   linkogecko / Atlas Obscura User
The palm of the hand.   linkogecko / Atlas Obscura User
The ankle.   linkogecko / Atlas Obscura User
Foot in its natural setting.   linkogecko / Atlas Obscura User
  SEANETTA / Atlas Obscura User
  SEANETTA / Atlas Obscura User
  SEANETTA / Atlas Obscura User
  SEANETTA / Atlas Obscura User
  SEANETTA / Atlas Obscura User
  SEANETTA / Atlas Obscura User
  Julius Spada / Atlas Obscura User
Double Rainbow   SEANETTA / Atlas Obscura User
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

Born in 1924 in the Edinburgh neighborhood of Leith to a family of Italian immigrants, Eduardo Paolozzi grew up to become one of the United Kingdom's most notable artists. He's widely considered as a pioneer of British Pop Art. 

Growing up during World War II, Paolozzi was sent to fascist youth camps in Italy. When the United Kingdom declared German and Italian migrants, as well as their descendants in the country as "enemy aliens," he and his father were forcefully imprisoned for three months in 1940.

His father and grandfather were eventually deported to Canada, but died along the way when their ship was torpedoed by German forces. At the time, Paolozzi was studying art in London, and was also drafted into the British Army's auxiliary unit. While it's believed that he did not have a strong reaction to the death of his family members, his 1991 work, "The Manuscript of Monte Cassino," shows that this event and the war affected him deeply.

The Monte Cassino was actually a real medieval abbey. Inside were priceless artifacts such as books, prints, and various manuscripts. It was all destroyed during Allied bombing raids at the 1944 Battle of Monte Cassino. Memories of the abbey inspired Paolozzi to create this monumental work.

Initially installed in Picardy Place and known colloquially as "The Foot" and "The Hand," this work is a series of three sculptures featuring disembodied body parts. Symbolism is present in all three elements, featuring geometric shapes that seem to break the body parts up. "The Manuscript" brings to mind the horror and destruction of war in a manner similar to Picasso's "Guernica."

Nearly 15 years after Paolozzi's death, "The Manuscript" is now displayed in front of the steps leading to St. Mary's Catholic Cathedral. Paolozzi on the other hand, is forever known as an icon of Scottish and British art. He is also considered one of the most important Britons of Italian descent.

Related Tags

Sculptures War History World War Ii Art Military

Know Before You Go

The sculptured pieces have returned to their original site near Picardy Place, in front of St. Mary's Catholic Cathedral. They are visible at all times.

Atlas Obscura Adventures

Flavors of Scotland: Beyond the Haggis

Smoked seafood, single malt whisky, and warm hospitality.

Book Now

Community Contributors

Added By

linkogecko

Edited By

SEANETTA, rbenn250, honeytea, jyackabonis...

  • SEANETTA
  • rbenn250
  • honeytea
  • jyackabonis
  • Julius Spada

Published

October 29, 2019

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Sources
  • https://ewh.org.uk/iconic-buildings-and-monuments/the-manuscript-of-monte-cassino-1991/
  • https://www.notablebiographies.com/newsmakers2/2006-Le-Ra/Paolozzi-Eduardo.html
'The Manuscript of Monte Cassino'
61 York Pl
Edinburgh, Scotland, EH1 3JD
United Kingdom
55.956116, -3.187849
Get Directions

Nearby Places

Shrine to Saint Andrew

Edinburgh, Scotland

miles away

Sherlock Holmes Statue

Edinburgh, Scotland

miles away

'Dreaming Spires'

Edinburgh, Scotland

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Edinburgh

Edinburgh

Scotland

Places 184
Stories 7

Nearby Places

Shrine to Saint Andrew

Edinburgh, Scotland

miles away

Sherlock Holmes Statue

Edinburgh, Scotland

miles away

'Dreaming Spires'

Edinburgh, Scotland

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Edinburgh

Edinburgh

Scotland

Places 184
Stories 7

Related Places

  • Tübingen, Germany

    Silcher Monument

    This statue has a painful history, but activists have since recontextualized it as a way to educate visitors about the dangers posed by fascist regimes.

  • Warsaw, Poland

    The Canaletto Room

    These 18th-century paintings of Warsaw were used to reconstruct the city after World War II.

  • Sunderland, England

    The Red House

    An enigmatic sculpture depicts a ruined home with debris stretching for over half a mile along the river.

  • Kunštát, Czechia

    Cave of the Blanik Knights

    An army of sleeping knights sculpted by a self-taught local artist beautifully depict an old Czech legend.

  • The paintings are stored on tightly packed vertical wire partitions to save space.

    Fort Belvoir, Virginia

    Army Museum Support Center

    The U.S. Army's giant warehouse of war art includes Hitler’s watercolors and Norman Rockwell oil paintings.

  • Quartier de Cazerne sculpture.

    Paris, France

    Sculptures de Décure

    Exquisite wall sculptures carved in secret by an early quarryman in an obscure corner of the Paris Catacombs.

  • “Interrupted Flight” monument at Šumarice Memorial Park

    Kragujevac, Serbia

    Šumarice Memorial Park

    Abstract monuments express sorrow and resilience at the site of a horrific massacre in Nazi-occupied Serbia.

  • The Kvarntorp Pile offers a spectacular view over the surrounding landscape.

    Kvarntorp, Sweden

    A Pile of Art

    An eclectic sculpture park rises atop a giant pile of ashes in Sweden.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.