Soldiers' National Monument, (sculpture)

Object Details

sculptor

Rogers, Randolph 1825-1892

designer

Batterson, James Goodwin 1823-1901

Keller, George W. 1842-1935

Save Outdoor Sculpture, Pennsylvania survey, 1995.

Craven, Wayne, "The Sculptures at Gettysburg," New York: Eastern Acorn Press, 1982, pg. 11-18.

Dupre, Judith, "Monuments: America's History in Art and Memory," New York, NY: Random House, Inc., 2007, pg. 36.

Image on file.

Craven, Wayne, "The Sculptures at Gettysburg," New York: Eastern Acorn Press, 1982, pg. 16.

Dupre, Judith, "Monuments: America's History in Art and Memory," New York, NY: Random House, Inc., 2007, pg. 36.

(On cornerstone, right:) J. G. Batterson, FECIT/Hartford, Conn. (On plaque, center front:) GETTYSBURG/JULY 1, 2, 3, 1863 (Text of Lincoln's Gettysburg Address appears on the back center) 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

Monument consists of five allegorical figures on a center column structure and a star-shaped base. Liberty stands atop the column, a female figure in Classical robes holding a laurel wreath in her proper right hand and a sword in her proper left hand. Eighteen bronze stars, one for each state whose citizens fought in the Union army, encircle the upper portion of the column. The four remaining figures are seated at the base of the column. They personify War, History, Peace and Plenty. War is a bearded, uniformed Civil War Soldier. History is a female figure in Classical robes, a garland around her head and a book in her lap. Peace is an American mechanic in work clothes holding a mallet in his proper right hand and a cogwheel at his feet. Plenty is a female figure with fruits and a sheaf of wheat. A bronze eagle in relief appears on the front center of the column. Relief items relevant to each figure appear on their respective chairs.

Cornerstone laid July 4, 1865. ca. 1866-1869. Dedicated July 1, 1869

Control number

IAS PA000765

Type

Sculptures-Outdoor Sculpture

Sculptures-Relief

Sculptures

Medium

Figures: marble; Base: Westerly granite with bronze elements

Owner/Location

Administered by United States Department of the Interior National Park Service Washington District of Columbia

Administered by Gettysburg National Military Park 97 Taneytown Road Gettysburg Pennsylvania 17325

Located Gettysburg National Military Park Soldiers' National Cemetery Gettysburg Pennsylvania 17325

Title

National Soldiers' Monument, (sculpture)

Art Inventories Catalog, Smithsonian American Art Museums

Topic

History--United States--Civil War

Figure group

Allegory--Civic--Liberty

Allegory--Civic--War

Allegory--Civic--Peace

Allegory--Arts & Sciences--History

Allegory--Quality--Wealth

Animal--Bird--Eagle

Record ID

siris_ari_334777

Metadata Usage (text)

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