Figure of Pike: bronze; Female figure: bronze; Base: granite
Type:
Sculptures
Owner/Location:
Administered by United States Department of the Interior National Park Service Washington District of Columbia
Date:
Cast 1899. Originally dedicated Oct. 23, 1901. Relocated 1972. Rededicated Oct. 3, 1977. Removed June 19, 2020
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. 228.
Michael Richman, SAAM curatorial assistant, 1967-1969.
Image on file.
Goode, James M., "The Outdoor Sculpture of Washington, D.C., A Comprehensive Historical Guide," Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution Press, 1974, F-7.
G. TRENTANOVE / FLLI GALLI FUSERO (Upper base, front:) ALBERT PIKE (Rear of base:) Born December 29th, 1809./Died April 2nd, 1891. (On banner held by female figure:) 33 / DEUS MEUMQUE JUS (Lower base, front: AUTHOR VIXIT/LABORUM EJUS SUPERTITIES SUN FRUCTUS POET (Lower base, left side:) SCHOLAR SOLDIER (Lower base, right side:) ORATOR JURIST (Lower base, rear:) PHILANTHROPIST ERECTED 1901 BY THE SUPREME COUNCIL OF/THE AASR OF FREEMASSONRY/FOR THE S J U S A 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:
Portrait of Albert Pike as a Masonic leader and not as a general in the military. Pike stands holding a book in his proper left hand, his proper right arm extended slightly and his proper left knee bent. He is dressed in a double-breasted vest and long coat. He has a full beard and moustache. The sculpture rests atop a tall base adorned with a bronze sculpture of a female figure representing the Goddess of Masonry. She is dressed in long classical robes and holds up a Masonic banner of the Scottish Rite on a staff with her proper right hand.
