George Washington (statue by DeLue)
Encyclopedia
George Washington is a public artwork by American
sculptor Donald De Lue
, located on the grounds of the Indiana Statehouse, in Indianapolis
, Indiana
, United States
. The bronze statue of George Washington
that occupies the Indiana Statehouse south lawn is one of several copies of a 1959 original wax cast at the Modern Art Foundry in Long Island, New York.
. Washington holds a tri-cornered hat in the crook of his proper left arm, and a gavel in his proper right hand. He wears an open overcoat with buttons and has a short podium to his proper right. Washington's attire depicts the first President as he may have looked when he laid the cornerstone for the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. The sculpture is mounted upon a stepped, inscribed granite base.
The base of the sculpture is inscribed with the following:
The dimensions of the statue are as follows: 9 in 4 in (2.84 m) by 46 inches (116.8 cm) x 36 inches (91.4 cm). The total weight of the statue is 900 pounds (408.2 kg). The granite base is 5 feet (1.5 m) tall and weighs approximately 9 short tons (8.2 MT). The Statehouse's version of De Lue's bronze statue was a gift of the Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of Indiana, dedicated May 19, 1987. This statue appeared at similar Masonic monuments in the following locations:
A Smithsonian's Save Outdoor Sculpture survey completed in October 1992 noted the condition as 'well-maintained'.
accepted the statue on behalf of the state. George Washington as Master Mason was inspired by sculptor Bryant Baker
's work, Illustrious Brother George Washington, which also depicts the subject in a similar pose with Masonic iconography.
the ANA, National Sculpture Society (president), NIAL, Architecture League, American Artists Professional League, among others. He was also the art committee chairman of the Hall of Fame for Great Americans, New York University, an artist with the Federal Art Project
, and advertising editor for American Artist Magazine.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
sculptor Donald De Lue
Donald De Lue
Donald Harcourt De Lue was an American sculptor known for several prominent public monuments.-Biography:...
, located on the grounds of the Indiana Statehouse, in Indianapolis
Indianapolis
Indianapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Indiana, and the county seat of Marion County, Indiana. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population is 839,489. It is by far Indiana's largest city and, as of the 2010 U.S...
, Indiana
Indiana
Indiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The bronze statue of George Washington
George Washington
George Washington was the dominant military and political leader of the new United States of America from 1775 to 1799. He led the American victory over Great Britain in the American Revolutionary War as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army from 1775 to 1783, and presided over the writing of...
that occupies the Indiana Statehouse south lawn is one of several copies of a 1959 original wax cast at the Modern Art Foundry in Long Island, New York.
Description
The statue depicts Washington dressed in breeches with an apron and medallion decorated with Masonic symbolsFreemasonry
Freemasonry is a fraternal organisation that arose from obscure origins in the late 16th to early 17th century. Freemasonry now exists in various forms all over the world, with a membership estimated at around six million, including approximately 150,000 under the jurisdictions of the Grand Lodge...
. Washington holds a tri-cornered hat in the crook of his proper left arm, and a gavel in his proper right hand. He wears an open overcoat with buttons and has a short podium to his proper right. Washington's attire depicts the first President as he may have looked when he laid the cornerstone for the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. The sculpture is mounted upon a stepped, inscribed granite base.
The base of the sculpture is inscribed with the following:
- Northwest corner of sculpture: Donald De Lue Sc. 1959
- Northeast corner of sculpture, east side, lower rear: The Modern Art Foundry, Inc. (Foundry mark) 1986 New York, New York
- Front/south side of base: GEORGE WASHINGTON PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES/1789-1797; First in War, First in Peace, First in the Hearts of His Countrymen
- West side of base: Observe good faith and justice toward all nations. Cultivate peace and/harmony with all. Religion and/morality enjoin this conduct./George Washington
- East side of base: My attachment to the Society of which we are members will dispose me to contribute my best endeavors to promote the honor and interests of the Craft./ George Washington, Freemason 1753–1799
- North side of base: (Masonic symbol, square and compass) Presented to the People of Indiana From the Freesmasons of Indiana/George Washington Commission/The Grand Lodge Free and Accepted Masons of the State of Indiana/May 19, 1987
The dimensions of the statue are as follows: 9 in 4 in (2.84 m) by 46 inches (116.8 cm) x 36 inches (91.4 cm). The total weight of the statue is 900 pounds (408.2 kg). The granite base is 5 feet (1.5 m) tall and weighs approximately 9 short tons (8.2 MT). The Statehouse's version of De Lue's bronze statue was a gift of the Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of Indiana, dedicated May 19, 1987. This statue appeared at similar Masonic monuments in the following locations:
- Detroit, Michigan (1966)
- Lansing, Michigan(1982)
- Lexington, Massachusetts
- Alexandria, Virginia (1966)
- Wallingford, Connecticut (1965)
- Flushing Meadows Corona Park, Queens, New York
- New Orleans, Louisiana (1960).
A Smithsonian's Save Outdoor Sculpture survey completed in October 1992 noted the condition as 'well-maintained'.
Historical information
George Washington as Master Mason was sculpted initially from a wax mold at Donald De Lue's studio in Leonard, New Jersey, and copyrighted in 1959. This sculpture was re-cast in 1986 and dedicated May 19, 1987 by the grand master of the Freemasons of Indiana, J.C. Paxton of Warsaw, Indiana. The total cost of the gift was $100,000. Lieutenant Governor John MutzJohn Mutz
John Massie Mutz is an American business leader and politician who served as Indiana Lieutenant Governor, Republican candidate for Governor and president of Lilly Endowment, one of America's largest family foundations....
accepted the statue on behalf of the state. George Washington as Master Mason was inspired by sculptor Bryant Baker
Bryant Baker
Percy Bryant Baker was a British-born American sculptor.-Life and career:Baker was born on 8 July 1881 in London, England, the son and grandson of sculptors and stone carvers and the brother of sculptor Robert Baker...
's work, Illustrious Brother George Washington, which also depicts the subject in a similar pose with Masonic iconography.
Artist
Donald De Lue's monumental sculptures embody patriotic heroism, classical mythology, and biblical themes. De Lue studied at the Boston Museum of Fine Arts School; in Paris with Alfredo Pina after World War I, and in New York with Bryant Baker. He was professionally affiliated withthe ANA, National Sculpture Society (president), NIAL, Architecture League, American Artists Professional League, among others. He was also the art committee chairman of the Hall of Fame for Great Americans, New York University, an artist with the Federal Art Project
Federal Art Project
The Federal Art Project was the visual arts arm of the Great Depression-era New Deal Works Progress Administration Federal One program in the United States. It operated from August 29, 1935, until June 30, 1943. Reputed to have created more than 200,000 separate works, FAP artists created...
, and advertising editor for American Artist Magazine.
Other works
- The Stations of the Cross, Toronto, Ontario
- White Bronze Plaque, Interchurch Center, New York, New York
- American Eagle, Federal Reserve Bank of Boston, Boston, Massachusetts
- Arcturus, Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, Massachusetts
- Boy Scout Memorial, United States Department of the Interior, Washington, District of Columbia
- France, U. S. Battle Monument, St. Laurent, Normandy, France
- National Academy of Design: 150th Anniversary Medallion, National Academy of Design, New York, New York
- The Rocket Thrower, City of New York, New York, New York
- U. S. Battle Monument Urn: The Spirit of the Lord Moved Over the Face of the Waters,U. S. Battle Monument, St. Laurent, Normandy, France