Statue of George Washington (Massachusetts State House)
| George Washington | |
|---|---|
_(cropped).jpg) George Washington by Sir Francis Chantrey | |
| Artist | Francis Chantrey |
| Year | 1826 |
| Medium | Marble |
| Dimensions | 2.2 m (7.3 ft) |
| Location | |
George Washington is a life-size marble statue of George Washington by the English sculptor Sir Francis Chantrey created in 1826 and dedicated in November 1827. It depicts Washington as a Roman Senator and is in Doric Hall of the Massachusetts State House in Boston, Massachusetts.[1][2][3]
The Statue depicts Washington wearing his typical general's Uniform under a Roman-style toga. The sculptor created him in this regalia to highlight Washington's role as a statesman.
The statue gained much criticism from the public in its first year, as many people seemed to believe that the themes were too imperial for a freely elected man such the President of the United States. Locals as well as politicians called for the Sculpture to be removed for the symbolism. It was only until Chantrey published an article in the Boston Gazette claiming that it wasn’t a toga, but a blanket Washington was wearing to keep warm at Valley Forge, that it was accepted again.[4]
Under the statue sits an empty pedestal. Chantry believed that Washington would be recognizable to all, and that his piece did not need a name plate.[5]
See also
References
- ↑ Johnston, Elizabeth Bryant (1882). "Sir Francis Chantrey". Original Portraits of Washington, including Statues, Monuments and Medals. p. 174. OCLC 3303313.
- ↑ "An Online Tour of the Massachusetts State House: Doric Hall". Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
The 1826 marble statue of George Washington by Sir Francis Chantrey was the first to be placed in the State House.
- ↑ "Washington as a Roman Senator, 1826".
Unveiled in Doric Hall of the Massachusetts State House in November 1827, it was the first sculpture to be placed in the then new State House and the first full-sized marble statue in New England.
- ↑ "Boston National Historical Park | MASSACHUSETTS STATE HOUSE: DORIC HALL". National Park Planner. Retrieved 2026-08-04.
- ↑ Lieberman, Ilene D. (1989-06-01). "Sir Francis Chantrey's Monument to George Washington: Sculpture and Patronage in Post-Revolutionary America". The Art Bulletin. 71 (2): 254–268. doi:10.1080/00043079.1989.10788498. ISSN 0004-3079.
External links
Media related to Statue of George Washington by Francis Chantrey at Wikimedia Commons- "Chantrey's Washington". Harper's Weekly. V (217): 113–114. February 23, 1861.
