Huey Pierce Long, (sculpture)

Object Details

sculptor

Keck, Charles 1875-1951

Subject

Long, Huey Pierce

Save Outdoor Sculpture, Louisiana survey, 1995.

SOS Conservation Treatment Award, 1999.

Image on file.

(On lower proper left of sculpture:) Charles Keck sc (On front top of base, incised lettering:) HUEY PIERCE LONG (On rear of base:) Huey Pierce Long/1893-1935/Gov.-1928-1932/U. S. Senator-1932-1935/Here lies Louisiana's greatest son Huey Pierce Long an unconquered friend of the poor who dreamed of the day when the wealth of the land would be spread among all the people "I know the hearts of the people because I have not colored my own. I know when I am right in my own conscience. I have one language. Its' simplicity gains pardon for my lack of letters. Fear will not change it. It cannot be changed while people suffer." Huey P. Long U. S. Senate Mar 5, 1935 Erected by State of La. 1940 (On one side of base:) Charles Keck sc 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

A full-length portrait of Huey Pierce Long, seen standing wearing a double-breasted suit. The sculpture is mounted atop a white marble base adorned with relief carvings that illustrate Huey Long involved with his major initiatives --education, building the Louisiana State Capitol, and building the Huey P. Long Bridge. The relief on the east side depicts Long distributing free textbooks to students, as parents of an infant look gratefully toward him. In the background are three students reaching the ultimate goal of graduation. The relief on the west side depicts Long meeting with architects, laborers, and craftsmen constructing the Louisiana State Capitol. Long points toward a three-dimensional model of the state capitol building. The relief on the rear of the monument depicts the building of the Huey P. Long Bridge across the Mississippi River near New Orleans. The relief on the front of the monument depicts a riderless horse rearing on its hind legs --a symbolic representation of a leader slain in battle --and a reference to Long's 1935 assassination. A banner across the horse indicates Long's most popularly recognized social program --"Share the Wealth." The marble base rests atop a granite foundation that forms the cap of Huey Long's tomb.

1940

Control number

IAS LA000387

Type

Sculptures-Outdoor Sculpture

Sculptures-Gravestone

Sculptures

Medium

Sculpture: bronze; Base: white marble; Foundation: granite

Owner/Location

Administered by State of Louisiana Office of State Building and Grounds P. O. Box 94095 Baton Rouge Louisiana 70804

Located Louisiana State Capitol Capitol Gardens Baton Rouge Louisiana

Art Inventories Catalog, Smithsonian American Art Museums

Topic

Portrait male--Full length

Occupation--Political--Governor

Occupation--Political--Senator

Dress--Ceremonial--Academic Dress

Record ID

siris_ari_333318

Metadata Usage (text)

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