Gallaudet University 800 Florida Avenue, N.E Washington District of Columbia 20002
Date:
1887-1888. Cast 1889. Dedicated June 26, 1889
Notes:
Save Outdoor Sculpture, District of Columbia survey, 1993.
Goode, James M., "The Outdoor Sculpture of Washington, D.C., A Comprehensive Historical Guide," Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution Press, 1974, pg. 318.
Greenthal, Kathryn, "Augustus Saint-Gaudens: Master Sculptor," New York, NY: Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1985, pg. 41.
National Park Service, American Monuments and Outdoor Sculpture Database, DC5021, 1989.
Index of American Sculpture, University of Delaware, 1985.
Monumental News, June 1889, pg. 97.
SOS Conservation Treatment Award, 1998.
Michael Richman, SAAM curatorial assistant, 1967-1969.
"Antoine Mercie, Sculptor of the Lee Monument: The French Academic Tradition in American Public Sculpture," University of Richmond, Marsh Gallery, 1990 (exhibition brochure), pg. 17.
Image on file.
Goode, James M., "The Outdoor Sculpture of Washington, D.C., A Comprehensive Historical Guide," Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution Press, 1974, I-2.
Greenthal, Kathryn, "Augustus Saint-Gaudens: Master Sculptor," New York, NY: Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1985, pg. 41.
Washington Post, June 4, 1971, pg. B1.
"Antoine Mercie, Sculptor of the Lee Monument: The French Academic Tradition in American Public Sculpture," University of Richmond, Marsh Gallery, 1990 (exhibition brochure), pg. 17.
(Lower right corner:) D.C. FRENCH. SC. 1888 / Cast by the Henry Bonnard Bronze Co. 1889 N-Y. (Base, front:) FRIEND/TEACHER BENEFACTOR (Base, left side:) BORN AT PHILADELPHIA DEC 10 1787/FUNDED/AT HARTFORD THE FIRST SCHOOL FOR THE DEAF/IN AMERICA/1817/DIED AT HARTFORD SEPT 10 1851 (Base, right side:) THE DEAF PEOPLE OF THE UNITED STATES/IN GRATEFUL REMEMBRANCE/OF THOMAS HOPKINS GALLAUDET/MARK THE CENTENNIAL OF HIS BIRTH WITH THIS MEMORIAL/1887 (Base, rear:) ERECTED BY CONTRIBUTORS FROM EVERY STATE,/TERRITORY AND DISTRICT OF THE./UNITED STATES/ - /EDWIN A. HODGSON./PRESIDENT OF THE ASSOCIATION./THEODORE A/ FAROELICH./CHAIRMAN OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE./AMOS G. DRAPER,/TREASURER OF THE FUND. 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 seated portrait of Thomas Gallaudet shown with his first student, Alice Cogswell, who stands on his proper left. Gallaudet places his left arm around the girl's waist and with his proper right hand makes the sign for the letter "A" as Alice, too, makes the "A" sign with her right hand. Alice looks up toward Gallaudet and holds an open book to her chest with her proper left hand. Gallaudet is dressed in a long jacket, vest, and bow tie. His wavy hair curls around his face. Alice is dressed in a square-necked, long dress and her hair is pulled back away from her face.
