Raphael Semmes, (sculpture).

Raphael Semmes, (sculpture).

Buberl, Caspar, 1834-1899, sculptor.

Raphael Semmes, (sculpture).

1899. Dedicated June 27, 1900. Relocated 1980s. Relocated 1990. Rededicated 1992. Removed June 4-5, 2020.

Digital Reference:

Figure: bronze with green patina; Base: granite.

Figure: approx. H. 8 ft. 6 in.; Base: approx. 11 ft. 6 in. x 100 in. x 100 in.

(Proper right side of front of plinth:) C. Buberl Sc. 1899/NY (On plaque on upper front of base, raised:) COMMANDER/C.S. STEAMER/ALABAMA/REAR-ADMIRAL/C.S. NAVY/--/SAILOR, PATRIOT,/STATESMAN,/SCHOLAR,/AND/CHRISTIAN/GENTLEMAN (Below upper plaque, incised:) ERECTED JUNE 27, 1900 (On plaque on middle front, incised:) 1861-1865 (Plaque depicting the C.S. steamer Alabama at sea on lower front) (On second to lowest tier of front of base, raised:) RAPHAEL SEMMES signed

Standing figure of Admiral Raphael Semmes. He wears confederate attire, including a long coat which extends to his knees, and a cap on his head. His proper left arm is bent so that his fist rests on his hip, with sword hanging immediately behind. His proper right arm is at his side with binoculars in his hand. The base features three bronze plaques, including one which depicts the C.S. steamer Alabama at sea.

Portrait male -- Semmes, Raphael -- Full length

Occupation -- Military -- Admiral

Dress -- Uniform -- Military Uniform

Object -- Weapon -- Sword

History -- United States -- Civil War

Architecture -- Boat -- Alabama

Architecture -- Boat -- Warship

Architecture -- Boat -- Steamer

Administered by Sons of Confederate Veterans,

Formerly located Intersection of Government & Royal Streets, Mobile, Alabama

Formerly located City Hall, Mobile, Alabama

Formerly located Intersection of Government & Royal Streets, Mobile, Alabama

Waterfront Park, Mobile, Alabama 1980s-Aug. 8, 1990.

Formerly located City of Mobile, Warehouse, Mobile, Alabama until 1992.

Formerly located Government Street Median, East of Royal Street, Mobile, Alabama until June 4-5, 2020.

Commissioned by the Ann T. Hunter Chapter Auxiliary of Raphael Semmes Camp 11, Sons of Confederate Veterans, in the late 1890s. Among the funds raised by the Sons of Confederate Veterans for the erection of the sculpture were donations of dimes from children. Unveiled June 27, 1900 by Mrs. Electra Semmes Colston, daughter of Admiral Semmes. Originally located at the intersection of Government & Royal Streets in Mobile. At some point the sculpture was moved to City Hall because of tunnel construction. The sculpture was returned to the intersection of Government & Royal Streets where it was located for several years. The sculpture was relocated to Waterfront Park in Mobile in the 1980s. In 1990 the sculpture was removed because of construction of Mobile's waterfront convention center, and stored in a warehouse owned by the City of Mobile. The sculpture was relocated in 1992 to the Government Street median, east of Royal Street.

IAS files contain copies of newspaper articles, including articles from Mobile Press Register (Mobile, Alabama), April 17, 1976, which discusses recovery of the figure's stolen sword; Mobile Press Register (Mobile, Alabama), Dec. 5, 1979, which mentions damage to the monument from Hurricane Frederic; Mobile Press Register (Mobile, Alabama), Aug. 9, 1990, which discusses removal of the sculpture because of convention center construction; Mobile Press Register (Mobile, Alabama), April 18, 1991, which mentions commissioning and funding; Mobile Press Register (Mobile, Alabama), Aug. 11, 1991, which discusses conservation treatment and relocation of the sculpture; Mobile Press Register (Mobile, Alabama), June 4, 1992, which discusses the relocation; an unidentified clipping that discusses the first removal of the sculpture for tunnel construction; and an unidentified clipping that discusses the 1992 rededication.

The figure's sword was stolen in 1976 and found broken into several pieces; the figure currently has a sword, but it is unclear to cataloger whether the original sword was restored or a new one was cast. In 1979, the figure was blown from its base by Hurricane Frederic; the reinstallation of the figure necessitated a new anchor. Between the time the sculpture was removed from Waterfront Park in Aug. 1990 and rededicated at its Government street median location in 1992, the figure received a cold process chemical patina, and a new bronze plaque bearing the dates of Semmes' birth and death was cast for the base.

Save Outdoor Sculpture, Alabama Survey, 1993.

Mobile Press Register (Mobile, Alabama), June 4, 1992, pg. 1B.

Mobile Press Register (Mobile, Alabama), Aug. 11, 1991, pg. 1B, 6B.

Mobile Press Register (Mobile, Alabama), April 18, 1991, pg. 13A, 18A.

Mobile Press Register (Mobile, Alabama), Aug. 9, 1990, pg. 11A, 17A.

Index of American Sculpture, University of Delaware, 1985.

Mobile Press Register (Mobile, Alabama), Dec. 5, 1979, pg. 1B.

Mobile Press Register (Mobile, Alabama), April 17, 1976.

Sheffield, Alton, Administrative Asst., Museum Department, City of Mobile, 1976.

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.

Inventories of American Painting and Sculpture, Smithsonian American Art Museum, P.O. Box 37012, MRC 970, Washington, D.C. 20013-7012

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