Statue of Stephen F. Austin facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Statue of Stephen F. Austin |
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The statue in the National Statuary Hall Collection
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| Artist | Elisabet Ney |
| Year | 1905 |
| Medium | Marble sculpture |
| Subject | Stephen F. Austin |
| Dimensions | 194 cm (76.5 in) |
| Location | National Statuary Hall Collection, Washington, D.C., United States |
The Statue of Stephen F. Austin is a famous sculpture of Stephen F. Austin, an important figure in Texas history. It was created by a talented artist named Elisabet Ney. The first version of this statue was made in 1893. A marble copy was placed in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C. in 1905. It is one of two statues representing Texas in the National Statuary Hall Collection. Another copy of the statue can be seen in the Texas State Capitol building.
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History of the Stephen F. Austin Statue
In 1892, the Texas government was getting ready for a big event. This event was the World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago. It was like a huge world's fair. Texas Governor Oran Milo Roberts suggested that a special women's group talk to Elisabet Ney. She was a German-American sculptor living in Austin, Texas.
After meeting, Ney was asked to create statues of Sam Houston and Stephen F. Austin. These statues were meant for the Texas exhibit at the fair. The group did not have money to pay her. However, Ney agreed to do the work. She started with the Houston statue. Then, in early 1893, she began working on the Austin statue. She finished a plaster model of Austin by that fall.
The Austin statue was completed too late for the Chicago fair. But Ney and the women's group wanted to make marble copies. They planned for these copies to be shown permanently in the Texas State Capitol. It took several years to get the money needed. Finally, in 1901, the Texas government provided the funds. The two marble statues were shown in the Texas Capitol on January 19, 1903.
An extra copy of each statue was made. These were sent to the National Statuary Hall Collection. They were unveiled in the United States Capitol in 1905.
Design of the Stephen F. Austin Sculpture
The Stephen F. Austin statue is a full-size sculpture made from marble. It shows Austin standing on slightly uneven ground. His left foot is a bit forward. He is looking up and into the distance.
His hands are lowered and hold a partially unrolled scroll. This scroll is meant to look like a map. A Kentucky long rifle leans against his left hip and leg. Austin is shown as a young explorer. He is dressed in fringed buckskins. The front of the statue's base has the words "STEPHEN F. AUSTIN" carved into it.
Elisabet Ney used real objects from that time period. She used them to make sure the details were correct. This included the long rifle and the scroll map. Some people said the Houston statue was taller than the Austin statue. Ney explained that these were the actual heights of the men. She said if anyone had a problem, they should "take the issue up not with her but with God."
Images for kids
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The statue in the Texas State Capitol
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See also
In Spanish: Estatua de Stephen F. Austin para niños
