Wars of America, (sculpture)

Smithsonian American Art Museum and its Renwick Gallery

Object Details

sculptor
Borglum, Gutzon 1867-1941
founder
Unknown (Italy)
Subject
Van Horn, Amos H
Mitchel, John Purroy
Index of American Sculpture, University of Delaware, 1985.
"Newark Museum Quarterly," Newark, N.J.: Newark Museum Association, Winter 1975.
National Park Service, American Monuments and Outdoor Sculpture Database, NJ5014, 1989.
Monumental News, Nov. and Dec. 1922.
Save Outdoor Sculpture, New Jersey survey, 1995.
Image on file.
Gutzon Borglum/1924 signed
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
This massive bronze monument commemorating America's land and naval forces participating in wars up through World War I, is composed of forty-two figures representing both civilians and military men from all branches of the service. Included among the figures are a Red Cross nurse, a conscientious objector, fathers and mothers seeing their sons off to war, and a portrait of the monument's benefactor, Amos H. Van Horn, as a mustachioed Union Army soldier. The artist even included figures modeled after himself and his son, Lincoln. The figures, along with two horses, serge forward in a massive line as they make their way up a steep incline. The monument is installed at the end of a long reflecting pool that takes the shape of a Tudor sword, as seen from the air, with the monument as its handle. The base of the monument is composed of large granite blocks.
1924. Dedicated May 31, 1926. Rededicated May 30, 1990
Control number
IAS 76001616
Type
Sculptures-Outdoor Sculpture
Sculptures-Fountain
Sculptures
Medium
Sculpture: bronze; Base: granite
Owner/Location
Administered by City of Newark Department of Engineering 970 Broad Street, City Hall Newark New Jersey 07102
Located Military Park Newark New Jersey
Art Inventories Catalog, Smithsonian American Art Museums
Topic
History--United States--Revolution
History--United States--Civil War
History--United States--Spanish American War
History--United States--World War I
Figure group
Dress--Uniform--Military Uniform
Occupation--Military--Sailor
Occupation--Military--Soldier
Occupation--Medicine--Nurse
Portrait male
Occupation--Other--Businessman
Occupation--Transportation--Pilot
Animal--Horse
Record ID
siris_ari_2965
Metadata Usage (text)
Usage conditions apply