Administered by Harvard University Harvard University Portrait Collection Cambridge Massachusetts 02138 Accession Number: B37
Located Harvard University Old Harvard Yard Cambridge Massachusetts 02138
Date:
Dedicated Oct. 15, 1884
Notes:
Index of American Sculpture, University of Delaware, 1985
Harvard University, 1991.
Save Outdoor Sculpture, Massachusetts survey, 1994.
Image on file.
(On proper right side of bronze base:) Daniel C. French / 1884. (On proper left side of bronze base:) THE HENRY-BONNARD BRONZE CO./NEW YORK 1884. (On front of granite base:) JOHN HARVARD / FOUNDER / 1638 (On bronze plaque on right side of granite base:) VE RE TAS / HARVARDIANE/SIGILLUM/1638/ACADEMIAE (On bronze plaque on left side of stone base:) EMANUEL / SACRAE/THEOLOGIAE/STUDIOSIS/POSIT/GVA (On back of stone base:) GIVEN BY/SAMUEL JAMES BRIDGE/JUNE 17, 1884 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:
A portrait of John Harvard seated in a chair with an open book resting on his proper right leg. More books are piled beneath his chair. His academic robe is open and falls across the arms and seat of the chair. The sculpture is installed on a square stone base adorned with two oval bronze relief plaques. The relief plaque on the right side depicts the Arms of Harvard, a shield featuring three open books inscribed with VE RE TAS. The relief plaque on the left side depicts the Arms of Cambridge University in England, a lion holding a wreath with its proper left paw and a banner inscribed with EMANUEL in its mouth.