Civil War Soldiers & Sailors Memorial, (sculpture)

Object Details

sculptor

MacNeil, Hermon A. 1866-1947

carver

Piccirilli Brothers Marble Carving Studios

architectural firm

Lord & Hewlett

Public Monument Conservation Project, 1986.

Fairmount Park Art Assoc., "Sculpture of a City: Philadelphia's Treasures in Bronze & Stone," NY: Walker Publ., 1974, pg. 281.

Bach, Penny Balkin, "Public Art in Philadelphia," Philadelphia: Temple University Press, 1992, pg. 61.

Brenner, Roslyn, "Philadelphia's Outdoor Art: A Walking Tour," Philadelphia: Camino Books, 1991, pg. 45.

Save Outdoor Sculpture, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia survey, 1993.

Image on file.

Fairmount Park Art Assoc., "Sculpture of a City: Philadelphia's Treasures in Bronze & Stone," NY: Walker Publ., 1974, pg. 281.

PICCIRILLI BROS NY (Sailors, front of south pylon:) IN GIVING/FREEDOM TO THE SLAVE/WE ASSURE/FREEDOM TO THE FREE (Base of south pylon:) ALL WHO HAVE LABORED TODAY/IN BEHALF OF THE UNION/HAVE WROUGHT FOR THE BEST INTERESTS/OF THE COUNTRY AND THE WORLD/NOT ONLY FOR THE PRESENT/BUT FOR ALL FUTURE AGES (Sailors, back of south pylon:) PORT ROYAL/FORT HATTERAS/PORT HENRY HAMPTON ROADS/NEW ORLEANS/MEMPHIS PORT HUDSON/CHARLESTON/MOBILE BAY CRURYS BLUFF/ CHERBOURG/FORT FISHER (Soldiers, front of north pylon:) ONE COUNTRY/ONE CONSTITUTION/ONE DESTINY (Base of north pylon:) EACH FOR HIMSELF GATHERED UP/THE CHERISHED PURPOSES OF LIFE/ITS AIMS AND AMBITIONS/ITS DEAREST AFFECTIONS/AN FLUNG ALL WITH LIFE ITSELF/INTO THE SCALE OF BATTLE (Soldiers, back of north pylon:) DONELSON/THE PENINSULA/ANTIETAM MURFREESBORO/CHANCELLORSVILLE/GETTYSBURG VICKSBURG/CHICKAMAUGA/CHATTANOOGA PETERSBURG/ATLANTA/APPOMATTOX Founder's name appears.

The information provided about this artwork was compiled as part of the Smithsonian American Art Museum's Inventories of American Painting and Sculpture database, designed to provide descriptive and location information on artworks by American artists in public and private collections worldwide.

Summary

Two rectangular pylons installed on either side of the Benjamin Franklin Parkway provide a gateway to the Philadelphia Art Museum. Each pylon is adorned near its base with a group of nine male figures dressed in military uniforms and intertwined around a cannon. The grouping on the south pylon measures 132 inches high and is dedicated to sailors who served during the Civil War. The figures include one wounded sailor clutched by another and a sailor looking outward and holding binoculars at his waist. The grouping on the north pylon measures 156 inches high and is dedicated to soldiers who served during the Civil War. The figures include two on horseback, one carrying a rifle, one aiming a rifle, a wounded one being held by another, and one blowing a bugle. On each pylon, a low relief of a female figure with her hands clasped across her chest rises from above the heads of the figures. At the top of each pylon is an eagle with wings spread and a shield.

Installed 1921. Relocated 1954-55

Control number

IAS PA000010

Type

Sculptures-Outdoor Sculpture

Sculptures

Medium

Sculpture: Tennessee marble; Base: granite

Owner/Location

Administered by City of Philadelphia Fairmount Park Commission Memorial Hall, West Park, P. O. Box 21601 Philadelphia Pennsylvania 19131

Located 20th Street & Benjamin Franklin Parkway Philadelphia Pennsylvania

Title

Civil War Soldiers and Sailors Memorial (two pylons), (sculpture)

Art Inventories Catalog, Smithsonian American Art Museums

Topic

History--United States--Civil War

Figure group--Male

Dress--Uniform--Military Uniform

Object--Weapon--Cannon

Occupation--Military--Soldier

Occupation--Military--Sailor

Equestrian

State of Being--Illness--Wound

Figure female--Full length

Animal--Bird--Eagle

Record ID

siris_ari_14490

Metadata Usage (text)

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