Thomas Jefferson (Bitter) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Thomas Jefferson |
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The statue at Cleveland's Cuyahoga County Courthouse
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| Artist | Karl Bitter |
| Subject | Thomas Jefferson |
| Location | Original: Cleveland Replicas: Charlottesville, Virginia; New York City; Portland, Oregon, St. Louis |
The Thomas Jefferson statue is a bronze artwork from 1911. It shows Thomas Jefferson sitting down. The famous artist Karl Bitter created it for the Cuyahoga County Courthouse in Cleveland, Ohio, United States.
There is also a marble version of the statue from 1913. This one is about 50 percent bigger. You can find it at the Missouri History Museum in St. Louis.
Other bronze copies of the Cleveland statue were made too. One was placed at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville in 1915. Another went to Jefferson High School in Portland, Oregon in 1916. A plaster copy was given to Thomas Jefferson High School in Brooklyn, New York City, in 1929.
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The Original Thomas Jefferson Statue in Cleveland
In 1909, Karl Bitter was asked to create two bronze statues. One was of a seated Thomas Jefferson, and the other was of Alexander Hamilton. These statues were meant to stand on each side of the entrance steps at the Cuyahoga County Courthouse in Cleveland.
Both statues were made by a company called Roman Bronze Works. They were put in place in 1911. The Jefferson statue is about 72 inches (183 cm) tall.
The statue shows Jefferson wearing clothes from the 1700s. He is sitting in a special chair called a klismos chair. He holds important "papers of state" in his hand. People describe this statue as showing a young and rebellious Jefferson. This is how he looked when he wrote the Declaration of Independence.
Replicas of the Thomas Jefferson Statue
St. Louis: Missouri History Museum Statue
Karl Bitter was in charge of sculptures for the 1904 World's Fair. This fair was held in St. Louis to celebrate 100 years since the Louisiana Purchase.
The fair's organizers decided to build a special memorial for Jefferson in St. Louis. This was because President Jefferson played a big role in the Louisiana Purchase in 1803.
Bitter had already made his sitting Jefferson statue for Cleveland. So, the committee asked him to create a marble version for St. Louis. This new statue would be 50 percent larger than the first one. The Cleveland statue showed Jefferson at age 33. This was his age when he wrote the Declaration of Independence.
The St. Louis statue was made to show Jefferson at age 60. This was his age when the Louisiana Purchase happened. The large marble block for the statue was first shaped in Italy. Then, it was sent to St. Louis. Bitter finished carving the details there himself. The completed statue was shown to the public on April 13, 1913. This was Jefferson's 170th birthday.
The St. Louis Jefferson statue is 114 inches (290 cm) tall. It stands on a base that is 90 inches (229 cm) tall. A smaller plaster model of this statue is kept at the Saint Louis Art Museum.
Charlottesville: University of Virginia Statue
Soon after the St. Louis statue was revealed, Bitter got another request. He was asked to make a copy of the Jefferson statue for the University of Virginia. Thomas Jefferson had strong connections to this school.
For this copy, Bitter made small changes to the statue. He changed the position of Jefferson's right arm a little. He also made Jefferson look a bit older. This version was cast in bronze. It was officially shown on April 13, 1915. This date was Jefferson's 172nd birthday. It was also just days after Bitter passed away in a car accident.
Portland, Oregon: Jefferson High School Statue
Another bronze copy of the statue is located outside Jefferson High School in north Portland, Oregon. The statue looks over the football and track fields at the school. It shows Jefferson sitting on a draped chair. His arm rests on the back of the chair. His right arm is in his lap, holding a pen and some papers.
The bronze part of the statue is about 5 feet (1.5 m) tall. It sits on a stone base that is also about 5 feet (1.5 m) tall.
One part of the statue's base says: "KARL BITTER ROMAN BRONZE WORKS NEW YORK, NY." The front of the base says: "THE GIFT OF THE ALUMNI AND STUDENTS OF JEFFERSON HIGH SCHOOL AND / BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF SCHOOL DISTRICT NUMBER ONE / JUNE 1915."
The west side of the base has a quote from Thomas Jefferson: "BEAR IN MIND THIS SACRED PRINCIPAL, THAT / THOUGH THE WILL OF THE MAJORITY IS IN / ALL CASES TO PREVAIL, THAT WILL, TO BE / RIGHTFUL, MUST BE REASONABLE; THAT THE / MINORITY POSSESS THEIR EQUAL RIGHTS, / WHICH EQUAL LAWS MUST PROTECT, / AND TO VIOLATE WOULD BE OPPRESSION."
The east side of the base also has a quote from Jefferson: "THE GREATEST SERVICE WHICH CAN BE / RENDERED TO ANY COUNTRY IS TO ADD / A USEFUL PLANT TO ITS CULTURE."
Students who graduated from Jefferson High School first suggested getting a statue in June 1913. The statue was officially put in place in May 1916. It was paid for by former students, current students, and the school board. They raised $2,400 for the artwork.
In December 1993, experts checked the statue. They said it needed some care. On June 14, 2020, the statue was pushed onto the ground.
Brooklyn: Thomas Jefferson High School Statue
In 1929, Karl Bitter's wife and the Thomas Jefferson Memorial Foundation gave a plaster copy of the sculpture to Thomas Jefferson High School in Brooklyn.
