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More Smithsonian Searches     Who else has...     Novelli, James S.,     American Art Foundry,     J. G. Birkmeier & Sons,     Homage -- Smith, Arthur R.     Occupation -- Transportation     Occupation -- Service     Figure male -- Full length     Figure male -- Nude     Dress -- Accessory     Landscape -- Weather     Allegory -- Arts & Sciences     Figure group -- Female     Object -- Tool     Architecture -- Vehicle     Architecture -- Industry     Object -- Other     Architecture -- Boat     Figure     Ethnic -- Indian     Religion -- Angel     Figure group -- Male     Architecture -- Vehicle     Animal -- Horse     Architecture -- Vehicle     Outdoor Sculpture -- Indiana -- Fort Wayne     Relief     Sculpture

The Spirit of Flight, (sculpture). Artist:  Novelli, James S., 1885-1940, sculptor. American Art Foundry, founder. J. G. Birkmeier & Sons, fabricator. Title:  The Spirit of Flight, (sculpture). Other Titles:  Monument to Art Smith, (sculpture). Dates:  Dedicated Aug. 13, 1928 or Aug. 15, 1928. Digital Reference:  Medium:  Sculpture and relief panels: bronze; Base: Barre granite. Dimensions:  4 relief panels. Each relief panel: approx. 15 x 30 x 1/2 in.; Sculpture: approx. 8 ft. x 6 ft. x 18 in.; Base: approx. 25 x 8 x 8 ft. Inscription:  (On bottom proper right of relief panels:) JAMES S. J. NOVELLI, Sc (On bottom proper left of relief panels:) American Art Foundry, NY. (On plaque on front of base:) ERECTED IN MEMORY OF/ARTHUR R. SMITH/PIONEER AVIATOR WHO GAVE HIS LIFE IN/U S AIR MAIL SERVICE/BY THE CITIZENS OF FORT WAYNE/AD 1926 signed Founder's mark appears. Description:  A male nude stands on tiptoes atop a sphere with arms outstretched at shoulder height and wings attached to his arms. He wears a 1920s aviator helmet and is facing upwards. Shapes, possibly clouds, encircle him strategically. The sculpture is mounted atop a tall columnar base set upon a squared bottom. The bottom of the base features four bronze relief panels, one on each side. The front panel depicts an anvil, two ladies, an airplane, animal, smokestacks and a tire. The left panel depicts an airplane, steamboat, an Indian and an angel. The rear panel shows two men driving a stagecoach containing two passengers. Eight horses pull the coach and the front proper right horse is rearing. The right relief panel depicts an Indian watching a steam locomotive. Subject:  Homage -- Smith, Arthur R. Occupation -- Transportation -- Pilot Occupation -- Service -- Postman Figure male -- Full length Figure male -- Nude Dress -- Accessory -- Helmet Landscape -- Weather -- Cloud Allegory -- Arts & Sciences -- Flight Figure group -- Female Object -- Tool -- Anvil Architecture -- Vehicle -- Airplane Architecture -- Industry -- Factory Object -- Other -- Wheel Architecture -- Boat -- Riverboat Figure Ethnic -- Indian Religion -- Angel Figure group -- Male Architecture -- Vehicle -- Carriage Animal -- Horse Architecture -- Vehicle -- Train Object Type:  Outdoor Sculpture -- Indiana -- Fort Wayne Relief Sculpture Owner:  Administered by City of Fort Wayne, Parks Department, 705 East State Boulevard, Fort Wayne, Indiana 46805 Located Memorial Park, Fort Wayne, Indiana Remarks:  The sculpture was installed by the citizens of Fort Wayne in memory of Art Smith, a pioneer aviator who died in service as a United States air mail carrier in 1926. Smith, a native of Fort Wayne, was known as "bird boy." Smith was a designer and builder of airplanes, including his famous pusher-biplane. The bronze sculpture and relief panels were cast at American Art Foundry in New York. The base was fabricated by J. G. Birkmeier & Sons. IAS files contain an excerpt from "Monuments, Plaques & Markers," 1963; an excerpt from John Ansenbruck's "Twentieth Century History of Fort Wayne," 1975, pg. 256 (gives dedication date as Aug. 13, 1928); and an article from the Journal Gazette (Fort Wayne, IN), Oct. 21, 1973. References:  Save Outdoor Sculpture, Indiana survey, 1993. SOS Assessment Award, 1998. Murphy, Josephine, "Novelli, a forgotten sculptor," Boston: Branden Books, 2003, fig. 11. Illustration:  Image on file. Murphy, Josephine, "Novelli, a forgotten sculptor," Boston: Branden Books, 2003, pg. 42. Ansenbruck, John, "Twentieth Century History of Fort Wayne," 1975, pg. 256. 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 IN000781   Copy/Holding information Smithsonian AmericanArt Museum Control Number   Inventory of American Sculpture IN000781 Add Copy to MyList Format: HTMLPlain textDelimited Subject:   Email to:

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