Statue of David Farragut (New York City) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Statue of David Farragut |
|
|---|---|
The monument in 2006
|
|
| Artist | |
| Year | 1881 |
| Type | Sculpture |
| Medium |
|
| Subject | David Farragut |
| Dimensions | 251 cm (96 in) |
| Location | New York City, New York, United States |
| 40°44′33″N 73°59′16″W / 40.74260°N 73.98770°W | |
The Admiral David Glasgow Farragut statue, also known as the Admiral Farragut Monument, is a large bronze sculpture. It shows David Farragut, a famous admiral. The statue was created by Augustus Saint-Gaudens. It stands on a stone base designed by architect Stanford White. You can find this monument in Madison Square in Manhattan, New York City.
About the Farragut Statue
This statue was made in 1880 and officially revealed on May 25, 1881. It sits on a dark stone base made of black granite. The sculpture shows Admiral Farragut, a hero from the American Civil War. He is standing in his naval uniform. He holds binoculars and a sword.
The statue rests on a small platform. This platform is part of a larger, curved stone structure. This structure is called an exedra. On each side of the exedra, there is a carved figure of a seated woman. These carvings are called bas-reliefs.
How the Statue Was Created
The Farragut statue was the first really big project for Augustus Saint-Gaudens. It was a very important step in his career. The bronze part of the statue was cast in Paris, France. A company named Adolphe Gruet did this work.
The words carved on the base of the statue were written by Stanford White’s father, Richard Grant White. An art expert named John Dryfhout said the carvings on the base were special. He thought they showed an early form of American Art Nouveau. This was a new art style at the time.
The original base of the statue was made of a material called bluestone. It was probably carved by Saint-Gaudens himself or his brother, Louis. Over time, this bluestone base wore out. In the 1930s, it was replaced with the granite base you see today. This replacement was part of a government project. The old bluestone base was moved to a park in Cornish, New Hampshire. This park is now called Saint-Gaudens National Historical Park.
A Study for the Sculpture
Artists often make smaller versions or practice pieces before a big project. These are called "studies." There is a bronze bust, which is a sculpture of just the head and shoulders, that was a study for this Farragut statue. You can see this special study at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City.
