Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., (sculpture)

Smithsonian American Art Museum and its Renwick Gallery

Object Details

sculptor
Roppa, Carlo
landscape architect
Grover, Edah Brittain
architect
Mouton, Grover E. III
founder
Fonderia Artistica Versiliese
landscape architect
Grover Harrison Harrison
Subject
King, Martin Luther, Jr
Save Outdoor Sculpture, Alabama survey, 1993.
Birmingham News (Birmingham, AL), Nov. 15, 1992, pg. 36P.
Birmingham News (Birmingham, AL), Sept. 9, 1992, pg. 1.
Image on file.
Birmingham News (Birmingham, AL), Sept. 9, 1992, pg. 1.
(Sculpture, lower left side by foot inscribed:) C Roppo/FONDERIA ARTISTICA/VERSILIESE/PIETRASANTA (ITALY) (Front of marble base:) DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR./BORN/JAN. 15, 1929/ASSASSINATED/APR. 4, 1968/"...YES, IF YOU WANT TO SAY THAT I WAS A DRUM MAJOR, SAY THAT I WAS A DRUM MAJOR FOR JUSTICE: SAY THAT I WAS A DRUM MAJOR FOR PEACE..."/HIS DREAM LIBERATED BIRMINGHAM FROM ITSELF AND BEGAN A NEW DAY OF LOVE, MUTUAL RESPECT AND COOPERATION. THIS STATUE OF DR. MARTIN LUTHER/KING, JR. ERECTED BY CITIZENS/OF BIRMINGHAM AS AN INDICATION/OF THEIR ESTEEM FOR HIM AND/IN APPRECIATION OF HIS/SACRIFICIAL SERVICE TO MANKIND./UNVEILED: JAN. 20, 1986/CARLO ROPPA, SCULPTOR (Front of base, lower portion:) OFFICERS OF THE STATUE COMMITTEE (listed by name) (Left side of base:) COMMITTEE MEMBERS (listed by name) (Back of base:) ADVISORY COMMITTEE (listed by name) (Right side of base:) COMMITTEE MEMBERS (listed by name) signed Founder's mark 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
King stands with his proper right foot slightly forward. His proper right arm is bent up to his chest and in his hand he holds a book. He wears a three-piece suit and tie. The surface of the sculpture is scored. The sculpture rests on a three-tiered, square base.
Culture
African American
Dedicated Jan. 20, 1986
Control number
IAS AL000004
Type
Sculptures-Outdoor Sculpture
Sculptures
Medium
Bronze sculpture on marble base
Owner/Location
Administered by City of Birmingham 710 North 20th Street Birmingham Alabama 35203
Located Kelly Ingram Park 16th Avenue North & 6th Avenue North Birmingham Alabama
Art Inventories Catalog, Smithsonian American Art Museums
Topic
Portrait male--Full length
Ethnic
Occupation--Religion--Clergy
History--United States--Black History
History--United States--Civil Rights Movement
Record ID
siris_ari_313955
Metadata Usage (text)
Usage conditions apply