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More Smithsonian Searches     Who else has...     Calder, Alexander Stirling,     Portrait male -- Witherspoon, John     Dress -- Ecclesiastical     Occupation -- Religion     Occupation -- Education     Occupation -- Political     Outdoor Sculpture -- Pennsylvania -- Philadelphia     Sculpture

Witherspoon Building Figures: John Witherspoon, (sculpture). Artist:  Calder, Alexander Stirling, 1870-1945, sculptor. Title:  Witherspoon Building Figures: John Witherspoon, (sculpture). Other Titles:  John Witherspoon, (sculpture). Dates:  1898-1899. Relocated 1961. Digital Reference:  Medium:  Sculpture: cast stone; Base: cast stone. Dimensions:  Sculpture: approx. H. 108 in.; Base: approx. H. 6 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 John Witherspoon dressed in a long preacher's robe with big sleeves and a tie at the neck. He stands with his arms folded across his waist and in his proper left hand he holds a partially unrolled scroll. His proper right hand rests on top on his left. His head faces forward and he look down slightly. His long hair curls about his shoulders and he has a pensive expression. Constructed of four hollow, cast-stone segments joined by a 1/2-3/4 inch thick layer of mortar, the figure of John Witherspoon rests on a low, octagonal-shaped, cast stone base. Subject:  Portrait male -- Witherspoon, John -- Full length Dress -- Ecclesiastical Occupation -- Religion -- Clergy Occupation -- Education -- Student Occupation -- Political -- Statesman 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. 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. John Witherspoon (1723-1794) was the president of the College of New Jersey and was a delegate to the Continental Congress. He was the only active member of the clergy to sign the Declaration of Independence. 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 88320050   Copy/Holding information Smithsonian AmericanArt Museum Control Number   Inventory of American Sculpture 88320050 Add Copy to MyList Format: HTMLPlain textDelimited Subject:   Email to:

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