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    		• Jonsson, Einar,
     
  •  
    		• Bureau Brothers,
     
  •  
    		• Gray Brothers,
     
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    		• Portrait male -- Karlsefni, Thorfinn
     
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    		• Occupation -- Other
     
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    		• Ethnic -- Icelandic
     
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    		• Object -- Tool
     
  •  
    		• Object -- Weapon
     
  •  
    		• Dress -- Historic
     
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    		• Outdoor Sculpture -- Pennsylvania -- Philadelphia
     
  •  
    		• Sculpture
     
     
    Thorfinn Karlsefni, (sculpture).
    Artist: 
    Jonsson, Einar, 1874-1954, sculptor.
    Bureau Brothers, founder.
    Gray Brothers, contractor.
    Title: 
    Thorfinn Karlsefni, (sculpture).
    Dates: 
    1915-1918. Dedicated 1920.
    Digital Reference: 
    Image Image Image Image
    Medium: 
    Sculpture: bronze; Base: granite.
    Dimensions: 
    Sculpture: approx. 84 x 54 x 48 in.; Base: approx. 66 x 144 x 144 in.
    Inscription: 
    Bureau Bros./Bronze Founders/Phila/Penn (Sculpture, lower proper left:) Einar Jonsson/sculptor/1915-18 (On back of Karlsefni's shield: Icelandic verse) (Base, front:) Thorfinn Karlsefni/Icelander/1003-1006 (Base, front plaque:) Following Leif Ericson's Discovery of/North America in 1003, Thorfinn Karlsefni/with 165 men and 35 women established a/settlement which lasted for 3 years and/his son Snorri was born in North America/Leif Ericson Society of Pennsylvania/Scandinavian Craft Club of Philadelphia/October 9, 1974 signed Founder's mark appears.
    Description: 
    A standing figure of explorer Thorfinn Karlsefni as he might have looked dressed in Nordic attire consisting of a long tunic of chain mail, tall boots, a long cape, and a pointed cap. He carries a circular shield slung over his proper left shoulder. The shield is engraved with a verse in tribute to Iceland. A sheathed sword hangs from his waist on his proper left side. With both of his arms stretched out straight in front of him, he holds a long-handled battle-ax. Both of his hands rest on the blade of the ax which is positioned vertically with the handle toward the ground. His head is turned to his proper left and he looks off into the distance. The sculpture rests on a square base by the edge of the river.
    Subject: 
    Portrait male -- Karlsefni, Thorfinn -- Full length
    Occupation -- Other -- Explorer
    Ethnic -- Icelandic
    Object -- Tool -- Axe
    Object -- Weapon -- Sword
    Dress -- Historic -- Armor
    Object Type: 
    Outdoor Sculpture -- Pennsylvania -- Philadelphia
    Sculpture
    Owner: 
    Coadministered by City of Philadelphia, Fairmount Park Commission, Memorial Hall, West Park, P. O. Box 21601, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19131
    Coadministered by Fairmount Park Art Association, 1616 Walnut Street, Suite 2012, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103
    Located Fairmount Park, East side of park, Kelly Drive at the North end of Boat House Row near Samuel Memorial, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
    Remarks: 
    Thorfinn Karlsefni is an Icelandic explorer, who in the saga of Eric the Red, is said to have visited this country as early as 1004. The artist idealized this portrait, since no image of Karlsefni existed. The sculpture was commissioned by J. Bunford Samuel.
    The verse on Karlsefni's shield is translated as: From the island of the North, of ice and snow, Of blossoming valleys and blue mountains, Of the midnight sun and the dreamy mists, The home of the goddess of northern lights.
    References: 
    Index of American Sculpture, University of Delaware, 1985
    City of Philadelphia, 1973.
    National Park Service, American Monuments and Outdoor Sculpture Database, PA5020, 1989.
    Monumental News, July 1919; March 1921.
    Fairmount Park Art Assoc., "Sculpture of a City: Philadelphia's Treasures in Bronze & Stone," NY: Walker Publ., 1974, pg. 276.
    Bach, Penny Balkin, "Public Art in Philadelphia," Philadelphia: Temple University Press, 1992, pg. 215.
    Save Outdoor Sculpture, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia survey, 1993.
    Illustration: 
    Image on file.
    Monumental News, March 1921, pg. 204.
    Fairmount Park Art Assoc., "Sculpture of a City: Philadelphia's Treasures in Bronze & Stone," NY: Walker Publ., 1974, pg. 276.
    Note: 
    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.
    Repository: 
    Inventories of American Painting and Sculpture, Smithsonian American Art Museum, P.O. Box 37012, MRC 970, Washington, D.C. 20013-7012
    Control Number: 
    IAS 75009291
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    Inventory of American Sculpture75009291Add Copy to MyList

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