Marquis de Lafayette, (sculpture).

Marquis de Lafayette, (sculpture).

Taft, Lorado Zadoc, 1860-1936, sculptor.

Marquis de Lafayette, (sculpture).

Dedicated 1887.

Digital Reference:

Fountain: metal, painted; Basin: limestone.

Figure: approx. 6 x 3 x 3 ft.; Pedestal: approx. H. 12 ft. x Diam. 74 in.; Basin: approx. D. 21 in. x Diam. 16 ft.

(On eight panels on pedestal, raised letters:) (panel 1:) In HONOR OF GENERAL/MARIE JEAN/PAUL ROCH YVES/GILBERT MOTIER/DE LAFAYETTE/BORN IN/AUVERGNE/FRANCE/1757/FOUGHT WITH/WASHINGTON/FOR AMERICAN/INDEPENDENCE/1776 TO 1782/DIED 1834 (panel 2:) ARTESIAN/WELL/CONSTRUCTED BY/TIPPECANOE/COUNTY/COMMENCED/APRIL 22, 1857/COMPLETED/FEBRUARY 18, 1858/DEPTH 230 FEET. (panel 3:) IN MEMORY OF/JOHN/PURDUE/WHOSE/MUNIFICENCE/GAVE/NAME TO/PURDUE/UNIVERSITY/BORN 1801/DIED 1876. (panel 4:) IN HONOR OF/THE/EARLY/PIONEERS/OF THE/COUNTY/AND/CITY. (panel 5:) TIPPECANOE/COUNTY/COURTHOUSES/FIRST/ERECTED 1829/SECOND/ERECTED/1845./THIRD/ERECTED 1881. (panel 6:) IN MEMORY OF/THE/GALLANT/SOLDIERS/OF/TIPPECANOE/COUNTY/WHO FOUGHT/FOR THE UNION. (panel 7:) IN MEMORY OF WILLIAM/DIGBY/FOUNDER OF THE/CITY OF/LAFAYETTE/MAY 27, 1825./BORN 1802/DIED 1864. (panel 8:) ERECTED BY/THE/CITY OF/LAFAYETTE/1887.

An octagonal artesian well monument with a statue of Marquis de Lafayette standing on a tiered pedestal in the center. The Marquis holds a sword to his heart with his proper right hand. He is dressed in 18th century attire. He wears an open coat and a buttoned vest. A cloak is draped over his extended proper left arm and shoulder. The tiered base is decorated with oval reliefs, including a male's bust portrait and a landscape.

Portrait male -- Lafayette, Marquis de

Ethnic -- French

Occupation -- Other -- Aristocrat

Occupation -- Political -- Statesman

Occupation -- Military -- General

Portrait male -- Unidentified -- Bust

History -- United States -- Civil War

Outdoor Sculpture -- Indiana -- Lafayette

Administered by Tippecanoe County Commissioners, 20 North Third Street, Lafayette, Indiana 47901

Located Tippicanoe County Courthouse, Courthouse Square, northeast corner, Lafayette, Indiana

The fountain was commissioned by the City of Lafayette and cost $2,200. It is said to be the artist's first commissioned work. The fountain was placed on a 230 foot artesian well that was constructed by the county between April 22, 1857 and February 18, 1858. The fountain commemorates Marquis de Lafayette (1757-1834), who fought with George Washington for American independence (1776-1782); and the fountain also honors the city and county's early pioneers -- John Purdue (1801-1876), after whom Purdue University is named; men who fought in the Civil War; and William Digby (1802-1864), founder of the city of Lafayette (May 27, 1825).

The fountain was located on the northeast corner of the courthouse until 1936. It was then moved to the lawn of the courthouse until 1974, when it was returned to the northeast corner. The 1993 SOS! survey says that the sculpture was recently refurbished.

IAS files contain a photocopy of a historic photograph (ca. 1890), depicting a man collecting water from the fountain. For related information see Larry Schumpert's "100 Years of the Courthouse," Tippecanoe County Historical Association, 1982.

Save Outdoor Sculpture, Indiana survey, 1993.

Index of American Sculpture, University of Delaware, 1985.

Tippecanoe County Historical Association, 1977.

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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