The Progress of Railroading, (sculpture).

The Progress of Railroading, (sculpture).

Saint-Gaudens, Louis, 1854-1913, sculptor.

Burnham, Daniel H., architect.

The Progress of Railroading, (sculpture).

Digital Reference:

Figures: Vermont white granite.

6 figures. Each figure: H. 18 ft.

Six allegorical figures standing on a ledge over the three entrance arches on the front of Union Station. The figures from left to right are: Prometheus (Fire), Thales (Electricity), Themis (Freedom or Justice), Apollo (Imagination or Inspiration), Ceres (Agriculture), and Archimedes (Mechanics).

Figure female -- Full length

Allegory -- Arts & Sciences -- Transportation

Allegory -- Element -- Fire

Allegory -- Arts & Sciences -- Agriculture

Allegory -- Arts & Sciences -- Technology

Allegory -- Civic -- Liberty

Allegory -- Other -- Imagination

Mythology -- Classical -- Prometheus

Mythology -- Classical -- Titan

Mythology -- Classical -- Apollo

Mythology -- Classical -- Ceres

Portrait male -- Archimedes -- Full length

Occupation -- Science -- Inventor

Outdoor Sculpture -- District of Columbia -- Washington

Architectural component

Administered by La Salle Partners Asset Management, Corporate Real Estate Services, 40 Massachusetts Avenue, N.E., Washington, District of Columbia 20002

Located Union Station, Massachusetts & Delaware Avenues, N.E., Washington, District of Columbia

The Goode publication contains an image of only the figure of Thales (Electricity). IAS image files contain an overview photograph and a detail shot of the two center figures, Themis and Apollo. Inscription on wall between figures reads: FIRE.GREATEST OF DISCOVERIES/ENABLING MAN TO LIVE IN VARIOUS CLIMATES/USE MANY FOODS.AND COMPEL THE/FORCES OF NATURE TO DO HIS WORK/ELECTRICITY.CARRIER OF LIGHT AND POWER/DEVOURER OF TIME AND SPACE.BEARER/OF HUMAN SPEECH OVER LAND AND SEA/GREATEST SERVANT OF MAN.ITSELF UNKNOWN/THOU HAST PUT ALL THINGS UNDER HIS FEET/SWEETENER OF HUT AND OF HALL/BRINGER OF LIFE OUT OF NAUGHT/FREEDOM O FAIREST OF ALL/THE DAUGHTERS OF TIME AND THOUGHT/MAN'S IMAGINATION HAS CONCEIVED ALL/NUMBERS AND LETTERS. ALL TOOLS VESSELS/AND SHELTERS.EVERY ART AND TRADE.ALL/PHILOSOPHY AND POETRY.AND ALL POLITICS/THE TRUTH SHALL MAKE YOU FREE/THE FARM.BEST HOME OF THE FAMILY.MAIN SOURCE OF NATIONAL WEALTH.FOUNDATION OF/CIVILIZED SOCIETY.THE NATURAL PROVIDENCE/THE OLD MECHANIC ARTS.CONTROLLING NEW/FORCES.BUILD NEW HIGHWAYS FOR GOODS/AND MEN.OVERRIDE THE OCEAN.AND MAKE/.THE VERY ETHER CARRY HUMAN THOUGHT/THE DESERT SHALL REJOICE AND BLOSSOM/AS THE ROSE.

Index of American Sculpture, University of Delaware, 1985

Goode, James M., "The Outdoor Sculpture of Washington, D.C., A Comprehensive Historical Guide," Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution Press, 1974, pg. 45.

Save Outdoor Sculpture, District of Columbia survey, 1994.

Michael Richman, SAAM curatorial assistant, 1967-1969.

Goode, James M., "Washington Sculpture: A Cultural History of Outdoor Sculpture in the Nation's Capitol," Baltimore, MD: Johns Hopkins University Press, 2008, no. 1.2.

Goode, James M., "The Outdoor Sculpture of Washington, D.C., A Comprehensive Historical Guide," Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution Press, 1974, A-2.

Goode, James M., "Washington Sculpture: A Cultural History of Outdoor Sculpture in the Nation's Capitol," Baltimore, MD: Johns Hopkins University Press, 2008, no. 1.2.

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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