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  •  
    		• Falguiere, Jean Alexandre Joseph,
     
  •  
    		• Mercie, Marius Jean Antonin,
     
  •  
    		• Pujol, Paul,
     
  •  
    		• de Nonvilliers, Maurice,
     
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    		• Portrait male -- Lafayette, Marquis de
     
  •  
    		• Ethnic -- French
     
  •  
    		• Occupation -- Military
     
  •  
    		• Object -- Weapon
     
  •  
    		• Figure female -- Full length
     
  •  
    		• Allegory -- Place
     
  •  
    		• Portrait male -- d'Estaing, Comte
     
  •  
    		• Portrait male -- de Grasse, Comte
     
  •  
    		• Portrait male -- de Rochambeau, Comte
     
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    		• Portrait male -- Chevalier du Portail,
     
  •  
    		• Religion -- Angel
     
  •  
    		• Object -- Weapon
     
  •  
    		• History -- United States
     
  •  
    		• Outdoor Sculpture -- District of Columbia -- Washington
     
  •  
    		• Sculpture
     
     
    Major General Marquis Gilbert de Lafayette, (sculpture).
    Artist: 
    Falguiere, Jean Alexandre Joseph, 1831-1900, sculptor.
    Mercie, Marius Jean Antonin, 1845-1916, sculptor.
    Pujol, Paul, architect.
    de Nonvilliers, Maurice, sculptor.
    Title: 
    Major General Marquis Gilbert de Lafayette, (sculpture).
    Other Titles: 
    Maj. Gen. Marquis Gilbert de Lafayette, (sculpture).
    Dates: 
    Cast 1890. Installed April 1891.
    Digital Reference: 
    Image Image
    Medium: 
    Sculpture: bronze; Base: marble.
    Dimensions: 
    Sculpture: approx. 10 x 4 x 4 ft.; Base: approx. 15 x 20 x 20 ft.
    Inscription: 
    Jean Alexandre Joseph Falguiere/Marius Jean Antonin Mercie (Base, west side, on cannon:) Maurice Denonvilliers, Foundeur Paris 1890 (Base, south side, on shield:) TO/GENERAL/ LA FAYETTE/AND HIS/COMPATRIOTS/1777-1783/DERVILLE FARBRE (Base, north side, on cartouche:) BY THE CONGRESS/IN COMMEMORATION/OF THE SERVICES/RENDERED BY/GENERAL LAFAYETTE/AND HIS COMPATRIOTS/DURING THE STRUGGLE/FOR THE/INDEPENDENCE /OF THE UNITED STATES/OF AMERICA signed Founder's mark appears.
    Description: 
    Standing portrait of Lafayette as he speaks to the French National Assembly in an effort to get assistance for the Americans and their fight for independence. He is not dressed in a military uniform, but rather in a long coat, vest, boots, and wig. He carries a cape over his proper left arm and his proper left hand rests on a sword. He reaches out with his proper right arm as he takes a step forward with his proper left leg. The sculpture rests atop a square tiered base adorned with bronze figures on all four sides.
    On the south side of the base, there is the symbol of America, a bare-breasted female figure seated, but turned to reach up to the statue of Lafayette to offer him a sword she hold with her proper right hand. On the east side of the base are the figures of Comte d'Estaing and Comte de Grasse, commanders of the French naval forces sent to help the U.S. at Lafayette's request. A symbolic anchor rests at the foot of d'Estaing. Both figures are dressed in their military uniforms and stand side by side involved in a discussion. On the west side of the base are the figures of Comte de Rochambeau and the Chevalier du Portail, commanders of the French army forces sent to help the U.S. at Lafayette's request. A symbolic cannon rests at their feet. Both are dressed in military uniforms and are walking side by side. On the north side of the base are two cherubs kneeling below a cartouche inscribed with a thank you made by Congress to Lafayette for his assistance during the Revolution.
    Subject: 
    Portrait male -- Lafayette, Marquis de -- Full length
    Ethnic -- French
    Occupation -- Military -- Major General
    Object -- Weapon -- Sword
    Figure female -- Full length
    Allegory -- Place -- America
    Portrait male -- d'Estaing, Comte -- Full length
    Portrait male -- de Grasse, Comte -- Full length
    Portrait male -- de Rochambeau, Comte -- Full length
    Portrait male -- Chevalier du Portail, -- Full length
    Religion -- Angel
    Object -- Weapon -- Cannon
    History -- United States -- Revolution
    Object Type: 
    Outdoor Sculpture -- District of Columbia -- Washington
    Sculpture
    Owner: 
    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
    Remarks: 
    In 1777, Marquis Gilbert de Lafayette (1787-1834) defied French King Louis XVI and sailed his ship, La Victoire, to America to join the Americans in their fight for independence. He was appointed a Major General and became George Washington's aide-de-camp and took part in the Battle of Brandywine, the winter at Valley Forge, and the Rhode Island campaign. In 1778, he went back to France where he successfully persuaded the French to assist American forces. Comte de Rochambeau was appointed commander of the French forces, Comtes d'Estaing and de Grasse were appointed leaders of naval forces. At Yorktown, Virginia, Rochambeau and Washington led troops from the north while Comtes de Barras and Grasse took command of the coast, and Lafayette cornered the British so that they could not escape. The British forces under Cornwallis were forced to surrender. Following the war, Lafayette returned to France, but came back to America twice in later years and each time was enthusiastically received. Because he had spent over $200,000 of his own money during the Revolution, Congress granted him $200,000 and a township of land in Louisiana and Florida, though not citizenship. The monument was erected by the Government at a cost of $50,000.
    References: 
    Save Outdoor Sculpture, District of Columbia survey, 1993.
    Goode, James M., "The Outdoor Sculpture of Washington, D.C., A Comprehensive Historical Guide," Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution Press, 1974, pg. 372.
    National Park Service, American Monuments and Outdoor Sculpture Database, DC5017, 1989.
    Monumental News, June 1891, pg. 218-219.
    Michael Richman, SAAM curatorial assistant, 1967-1969.
    "Antoine Mercie, Sculptor of the Lee Monument: The French Academic Tradition in American Public Sculpture," University of Richmond, Marsh Gallery, 1990 (exhibition brochure), pg. 19.
    Illustration: 
    Image on file.
    Monumental News, June 1891, pg. 219.
    Goode, James M., "The Outdoor Sculpture of Washington, D.C., A Comprehensive Historical Guide," Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution Press, 1974, pg. 372-373, J-11.
    "Antoine Mercie, Sculptor of the Lee Monument: The French Academic Tradition in American Public Sculpture," University of Richmond, Marsh Gallery, 1990 (exhibition brochure), pg. 19.
    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 DC000217
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