(Sculpture, lower left side by foot inscribed:) C Roppo/FONDERIA ARTISTICA/VERSILIESE/PIETRASANTA (ITALY) (Front of marble base:) DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR./BORN/JAN. 15, 1929/ASSASSINATED/APR. 4, 1968/"...YES, IF YOU WANT TO SAY THAT I WAS A DRUM MAJOR, SAY THAT I WAS A DRUM MAJOR FOR JUSTICE: SAY THAT I WAS A DRUM MAJOR FOR PEACE..."/HIS DREAM LIBERATED BIRMINGHAM FROM ITSELF AND BEGAN A NEW DAY OF LOVE, MUTUAL RESPECT AND COOPERATION. THIS STATUE OF DR. MARTIN LUTHER/KING, JR. ERECTED BY CITIZENS/OF BIRMINGHAM AS AN INDICATION/OF THEIR ESTEEM FOR HIM AND/IN APPRECIATION OF HIS/SACRIFICIAL SERVICE TO MANKIND./UNVEILED: JAN. 20, 1986/CARLO ROPPA, SCULPTOR (Front of base, lower portion:) OFFICERS OF THE STATUE COMMITTEE (listed by name) (Left side of base:) COMMITTEE MEMBERS (listed by name) (Back of base:) ADVISORY COMMITTEE (listed by name) (Right side of base:) COMMITTEE MEMBERS (listed by name) 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:
King stands with his proper right foot slightly forward. His proper right arm is bent up to his chest and in his hand he holds a book. He wears a three-piece suit and tie. The surface of the sculpture is scored. The sculpture rests on a three-tiered, square base.
