Albert Gallatin, (sculpture).

Albert Gallatin, (sculpture).

Fraser, James Earle, 1876-1953, sculptor.

Bacon, Henry, 1866-1924, architect.

Gorham Manufacturing Company, founder. (possibly by)

Albert Gallatin, (sculpture).

Completed 1941. Dedicated October 15, 1947.

Digital Reference:

Sculpture: bronze, painted; Base: polished granite.

Sculpture: approx. H. 8 ft.; Base: approx. H. 4 ft.

(Base, front:) ALBERT GALLATIN/SECRETARY OF THE TREASURY/GENIUS OF FINANCE/SENATOR AND REPRESENTATIVE/COMMISSIONER FOR THE TREATY OF GHENT/MINISTER TO FRANCE AND GREAT BRITAIN/AND STEADFAST/CHAMPION OF DEMOCRACY/ 1761-1849 unsigned

Standing portrait of Gallatin, looking off to his proper left. He wears knee britches, a waistcoat, and a long cloak draped over his shoulders. He holds his three-cornered hat on his proper left side at his waist. The sculpture rests atop a rectangular granite base in the front courtyard entrance of the Treasury building.

Portrait male -- Gallatin, Albert -- Full length

Occupation -- Political -- Senator

Occupation -- Political -- Congressman

Occupation -- Political -- Secretary of the Treasury

Occupation -- Political -- Diplomat

Occupation -- Monetary -- Banker

Occupation -- Education -- Teacher

Outdoor Sculpture -- District of Columbia -- Washington

United States Treasury Department, Office of the Curator, 15th Street & Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., North Entrance, Washington, District of Columbia

Albert Gallatin (1761-1849) arrived in Cape Ann, Massachusetts in 1780 from his native Switzerland and later settled in Pennsylvania where he was elected a member of the State Legislature. He went on to be elected to the U.S. Senate and later the House of Representatives where he served on the new Standing Committee of Finance. Gallatin's interest in the fiscal operation of the U.S. Government led President Jefferson to offer him the post of Secretary of the Treasury in 1801. Within six years, Gallatin was not only able to see that the U.S. debt of fourteen million dollars was paid off, but also that a surplus of funds was created. Gallatin was again offered the position of Secretary of the Treasury in 1916 by President Madison and in 1843 by President Tyler, but declined. He went on to negotiate the Treaty of Ghent ending the War of 1812, and serve as Minister both to France and to England before retiring from government service. He then moved to New York where he became the president of the National Bank of the City of New York. He later became a founder of New York University and the American Ethnological Society.

The memorial was authorized by Congress on January 11, 1927 and responsibility for the installation of the memorial was placed with the Albert Gallatin Memorial Fund Commission. By 1934 enough funds had been raised, but the memorial was delayed by the U.S. Fine Arts Commission's approval of a suitable model. By the time the model was ready to be cast, WWII had created a ban on the non-war use of bronze. Before installation in the north courtyard of the Treasury, a fountain had to be removed. Finally the sculpture was installed and dedicated on October 15, 1947. IAS files contain a copy of the dedication program. IAS files also contain a related article from the Washington Post, Jan. 28, 1940; copies of memos, report, and letters from the files of the Treasury; and the blueprints for the base of the sculpture. Henry Bacon was responsible for the creation of the base. On Nov. 18, 1941, Fraiser noted that the cast was to be made by Gorham Foundry.

Bidwell, Helen S., "Catalogue Raisonne: Fine Arts, Decorative Arts, Architecture of the U. S. Treasury Department," 1965.

Goode, James M., "The Outdoor Sculpture of Washington, D.C., A Comprehensive Historical Guide," Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution Press, 1974, pg. 370.

Save Outdoor Sculpture, District of Columbia survey, 1994.

Michael Richman, SAAM curatorial assistant, 1967-1969.

Goode, James M., "The Outdoor Sculpture of Washington, D.C., A Comprehensive Historical Guide," Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution Press, 1974, J-10.

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

Control Number:

Horizon Information Portal 3.25_9382

Powered by SirsiDynix

About | © 2020 Smithsonian | Terms of Use | Privacy | Contact

SIRIS - Smithsonian Institution Research Information System