Andrew Jackson, (sculpture).

Andrew Jackson, (sculpture).

Mills, Clark, 1810-1883, sculptor.

Andrew Jackson, (sculpture).

Commissioned May 1847. Cast 1852. Dedicated January 8, 1853.

Digital Reference:

Sculpture: bronze; Base: granite.

Sculpture: approx. H. 9 ft. W. 12 ft.; Base: approx. 18 x 16.5 x 9.75 ft.

(Base, south side, top right:) CLARK MILLS/SCULPTOR (Front of base, top:) JACKSON (Front of base, center:) OUR FEDERAL UNION/IT MUST BE PRESERVED signed

An equestrian portrait of Andrew Jackson just before the Battle of New Orleans on January 8, 1815. As his horse rears, Jackson controls the horse's reins with his proper left hand and tips his hat to his troops with his proper right hand. The sculpture rests on rectangular base that is surrounded by four cannons and an iron fence.

Portrait male -- Jackson, Andrew -- Full length

Occupation -- Military -- General

Occupation -- Political -- President

Outdoor Sculpture -- District of Columbia -- Washington

Administered by United States Department of the Interior, National Park Service, Washington, District of Columbia

Located Lafayette Square, Pennsylvania Avenue between Jackson Place & Madison Place, N.W., Washington, District of Columbia

This sculpture, the first equestrian statue made in America, was commissioned by the Jackson Monument Association in 1847. The self-taught sculptor, Clark Mills, received the commission though he had never seen an equestrian statue. After accepting the commission, Mills not only studied pictures of Jackson, but also bought a horse he thought would be spirited enough to help him model Jackson's rearing horse caught up in the heat of battle on the morning of January 8, 1815. Mills trained the horse to pose on its haunches so that he could thoroughly study the horse anatomically from its bone and muscle structures to the exact position of its legs and body as the horse balanced itself on it haunches. Mills' strategy for portraying the horse on two legs was to have the center of gravity positioned over the horse's rear legs. After more than two years of study, Mills completed his plaster model, and since there were no bronze foundries in America, Mills studied metallurgy and started a foundry.

The dedication took place on January 8, 1853, the 38th anniversary of Jackson's victory over the British at New Orleans. Stephen Douglas made an address at the dedication. During the dedication, questions were raised regarding the sculpture's ability to remain standing. To demonstrate the stability of the sculpture, Mills climbed up in front of the sculpture and threw all 156 pounds of his weight against the horse's front legs. The horse did not wobble an inch.

IAS files contain related articles from Impresario, Magazine of the Arts 8 (Oct. 1968): pg. 10, 41; Antiques (March 1942); and Washington Star, Jan. 17, 1937.

Index of American Sculpture, University of Delaware, 1985

National Park Service, American Monuments and Outdoor Sculpture Database, DC0064, 1989.

Smithsonian Institution Research Expeditions Volunteer Project, 1991.

Goode, James M., "The Outdoor Sculpture of Washington, D.C., A Comprehensive Historical Guide," Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution Press, 1974, pg. 377-378.

Monumental News, Dec. 1905, pg. 803.

Save Outdoor Sculpture, District of Columbia survey, 1993.

Michael Richman, SAAM curatorial assistant, 1967-1969.

Dupre, Judith, "Monuments: America's History in Art and Memory," New York, NY: Random House, Inc., 2007, pg. 9.

Goode, James M., "The Outdoor Sculpture of Washington, D.C., A Comprehensive Historical Guide," Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution Press, 1974, J-14.

Dupre, Judith, "Monuments: America's History in Art and Memory," New York, NY: Random House, Inc., 2007, pg. 9.

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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