Damien Hirst’s
Verity
Verity. Proudly guarding Ilfracombe Pier. Verity. Damien Hirst’s sixty-five-foot bronze and steel sculpture.
See Verity Stay At The Carlton
Verity
By Damien Hirst
out over the Bristol Channel. The world-famous artist has loaned the 65-foot sculpture of bronze &
steel to the town for 20 years, a town he very much loves, and lives nearby.
Verity is 25 tonnes of pregnant woman. Her skin is partially flayed with internal anatomy displayed,
foetus clearly visible. She is holding a sword aloft, hiding the scales of justice behind her back while
standing on a pile of books, and is not to everyone’s liking. It has certainly remained a talking point
since October 2012 and will remain so for many more years.
Damien Hirst describes his work as a ‘modern allegory of truth and justice’. The name Verity
historically refers to ‘Truth’ and the sculpture’s whole stance has unofficially been likened to that of
Edgar Degas’ Little Dancer of Fourteen which Hirst has previously been inspired by when creating
Virgin Mother, a similar sculpture and part of a collection of similar artworks.
Often called grotesque and a ‘marmite’ curiosity, we at The Carlton absolutely love Verity. We
applaud Mr Hirst for loaning her to the town as a re-energised and local artist community has
developed to complement this large piece of public art.
Ilfracombe Councillor, Mike Edmunds, said it would attract visitors.
“I think there is a tremendous feeling of optimism, especially from traders. Something like Verity is
going to make a great difference to the economy of Ilfracombe because an enormous number of
people will come to see the statue. There is still controversy over the design, people either like it or
not, but people can make their own interpretation of the statue.”
Verity is a striking 67-foot (20.25m) bronze statue by Damien Hirst, standing at the entrance to
Ilfracombe Harbour. Unveiled in 2012, it depicts a pregnant woman holding a sword high in one hand
and a set of scales behind her back, symbolizing justice and truth.
Key Features:
∙Half-Exposed Anatomy: One side of the statue shows her skin intact, while the other reveals
her muscles, skull, and even the unborn child inside her womb, in Hirst’s signature style of
blending life and mortality.
∙Sword of Justice & Scales: The raised sword represents truth, while the scales behind her
back symbolize justice.
∙Inspired by Classical Art: Hirst described it as a modern reinterpretation of traditional
allegorical statues, such as those seen in courthouses.
∙Material & Weight: Made of bronze, steel, and stainless steel, the statue weighs around 25
tonnes.
∙Loaned to Ilfracombe: Hirst loaned Verity to the town for 20 years, making it a major
landmark.
Anatomy Life & Mortality
Verity is part of Damien Hirst’s wider exploration of anatomy, life, and mortality, but it’s unique in its
scale and setting.
Hirst has created other works with a similar cutaway anatomical style, including:
half-flayed style, revealing her inner structure and unborn child. Versions of this exist in New
York (Lever House) and the Royal Academy courtyard in London.
inspired by a child’s anatomy toy.
from the Wreck of the Unbelievable series.
While Verity follows this artistic theme, her symbolism, setting, and grandeur make her a unique
statement piece—especially in Ilfracombe, where she’s become an iconic part of the town’s landscape
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