Admiral David G. Farragut, (sculpture).

Admiral David G. Farragut, (sculpture).

Ream, Vinnie, 1847-1914, sculptor.

Admiral David G. Farragut, (sculpture).

Dedicated April 25, 1881.

Digital Reference:

Sculpture: bronze; Base: granite.

Sculpture: approx. 10 x 3 x 3 ft.; Base: approx. 16 x 18 x 24 ft.

(Base, front:) FARRAGUT

Admiral Farragut dressed in his military uniform standing as if on the deck of his ship. His proper right knee is bent and his foot rests on a capstan. Across his middle, he holds a telescope with both hands. He looks out into the distance. The sculpture rests on a square, tiered base adorned with a chopped mortar at each corner.

Portrait male -- Farragut, David Glasgow -- Full length

Occupation -- Military -- Admiral

Dress -- Uniform -- Military Uniform

Outdoor Sculpture -- District of Columbia -- Washington

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

Located Farragut Square, K Street between 16th & 17th Streets., N.W., Washington, District of Columbia

Although he was a southerner, born in Tennessee in 1801, Admiral David G. Farragut fought for the Union during the Civil War and was victorious in his effort to capture New Orleans and open up the Mississippi River to the Union forces. In August 1864, Farragut successfully destroyed the Confederate fleet at Mobile Bay. It was at Mobile Bay, that Farragut uttered his most famous line, "Damn the torpedoes! Full speed ahead!" as he led his ship, the U.S.S. Hartford, through the minefields guarding Mobile Bay. In 1866 he received the commission of admiral, the first awarded in the United States Navy.

The sculpture, authorized by Congress on April 16, 1872, and four chopped mortars on the base were cast of bronze from the propeller of Admiral Farragut's ship, the U.S.S. Hartford. The plaster model for the sculpture was made by a frenchman named Stinach. The model for the piece was made in five sections, but the piece was sand cast in six sections --head and shoulders; each arm separately; lower torso, legs and plinth; sword; and marine glass. It took the artist six years to create the sculpture and nine months to cast the work. The base is made of granite from Rockland, Maine. The base contains a box with documents relating to Farragut's career, the history of the sculpture, a copy of the "Army and Navy Register," and a miniature bronze model of the propeller.

IAS files contain an article from the Sunday Star (District of Columbia), May 3, 1931 which gives a retrospective account of the dedication ceremony; and the Washington Star, July 10, 1938. IAS files also contain an excerpt from Jannelle Warren-Findley's Aug. 1, 1985 report for the National Park Service entitled, "A Guide to Selected Statues, Monuments and Memorials," National Capital Parks - Central, National Park Service, Washington, D.C. (RFQ 3-4-1919) which includes a brief maintenance history, a list of bibliographic sources, and notes to additional information found in National Park Service files.

The Daily Evening Transcript (Boston), Feb. 9, 1877, 3:6 notes that the sculpture will likely be cast at Chicopee.

Index of American Sculpture, University of Delaware, 1985

Sherwood, Glen V., "A Labor of Love: The Life and Art of Vinnie Ream," Unpublished manuscript, 1990.

Goode, James M., "The Outdoor Sculpture of Washington, D.C., A Comprehensive Historical Guide," Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution Press, 1974, pg. 101.

Save Outdoor Sculpture, District of Columbia survey, 1993.

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. 2.1.

Moore, Merl M., Jr., 1994.

Daily Evening Transcript (Boston), Feb. 9, 1877, 3:6

Goode, James M., "The Outdoor Sculpture of Washington, D.C., A Comprehensive Historical Guide," Washington, D.C. Smithsonian Institution Press, 1974, B-1.

Goode, James M., "Washington Sculpture: A Cultural History of Outdoor Sculpture in the Nation's Capitol," Baltimore, MD: Johns Hopkins University Press, 2008, no. 2.1.

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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