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More Smithsonian Searches     Who else has...     Calder, Alexander Stirling,     Portrait male -- Makemie, Francis     Dress -- Ecclesiastical     Occupation -- Religion     Outdoor Sculpture -- Pennsylvania -- Philadelphia     Sculpture

Witherspoon Building Figures: Francis Makemie, (sculpture). Artist:  Calder, Alexander Stirling, 1870-1945, sculptor. Title:  Witherspoon Building Figures: Francis Makemie, (sculpture). Other Titles:  Francis Makemie, (sculpture). Dates:  1898-1899. Relocated 1961. Digital Reference:  Medium:  Sculpture: cast stone; Base: cast stone. Dimensions:  Sculpture: approx. H. 108 in.; Base: approx. H. 8 in. W. 28 in. Inscription:  unsigned Description:  One of six figures of prominent Presbyterians which are installed in two groups of three along the wall of the building's courtyard. Portrait of Francis Makemie dressed in a long preacher's robe with big sleeves and a tie at the neck. He stands with his proper left hand raised up in front of him, his palm open. His proper right arm hangs down at his side and he holds a book in his proper right hand. He faces forward and his mouth is open as if speaking. His hair is brushed back from his forehead and tight curls are visible on the sides of his head. Constructed of five hollow, cast-stone segments joined by a 1/2-3/4 inch thick layer of mortar, the figure of Francis Makemie rests on a low, octagonal-shaped, cast stone base. Subject:  Portrait male -- Makemie, Francis -- Full length Dress -- Ecclesiastical Occupation -- Religion -- Clergy Object Type:  Outdoor Sculpture -- Pennsylvania -- Philadelphia Sculpture Owner:  Presbyterian Historical Society, 425 Lombard Street, Courtyard, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19147 Provenance:  Formerly located Witherspoon Building, Broad & Juniper streets, Walnut street facade, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania ca. 1899-1961. Exhibitions:  Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts Sixty Seventh Annual Exhibition, Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, Philadelphia, 1898. Remarks:  One of twelve large statues of significant American Presbyterian personalities which were installed on the seventh floor Walnut Street facade of the Witherspoon Building at Juniper and Walnut Streets from ca. 1899 until 1961. The Witherspoon Building, designed by architect Joseph M. Huston in 1896 was home to the Presbyterian Historical Society from 1898 to 1967. In later years, the large figures were considered a threat to the safety of pedestrians on the sidewalk below. In 1961, six of the sculptures were removed and stored pending the construction of the Presbyterian Historical Society's new building on Lombard Street. The relocation was funded under the city's one percent fine arts program. The six relocated figures are: Francis Makemie (IAS 76007256); John Witherspoon (IAS 88320050); John McMillan (IAS 88320051); Samuel Davies (IAS 88320052); James Caldwell (IAS 88320053); and Marcus Whitman (IAS 88320054). IAS files contain an excerpt from a Presbyterian Historical Society brochure which describes the six statues now located in the Society's courtyard. Francis Makemie (ca. 1658-1708) was known as the "Father of Organized American Presbyterianism." He served as an early moderator of the first presbytery in America. A bronze plaque on the alcove wall adjacent to the statues on the west side reads: STATUES/LEFT TO RIGHT/FRANCIS MAKEMIE/C1658-1706/JOHN WITHERSPOON/1723-1794/JOHN MCMILLAN/1752-1833. A bronze plaque on the alcove wall adjacent to the statues on the east side reads: STATUES/LEFT TO RIGHT/SAMUEL DAVIES/1723-1761/JAMES CALDWELL/1734-1781/MARCUS WHITMAN/1802-1847 References:  Index of American Sculpture, University of Delaware, 1985. Fairmount Park Art Assoc., "Sculpture of a City: Philadelphia's Treasures in Bronze & Stone," NY: Walker Publ., 1974, pg. 209. Save Outdoor Sculpture, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia survey, 1993. Illustration:  Image on file. Fairmount Park Art Assoc., "Sculpture of a City: Philadelphia's Treasures in Bronze & Stone," NY: Walker Publ., 1974, pg. 209. 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 76007256   Copy/Holding information Smithsonian AmericanArt Museum Control Number   Inventory of American Sculpture 76007256 Add Copy to MyList Format: HTMLPlain textDelimited Subject:   Email to:

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