Witherspoon Building Figures: Samuel Davies, (sculpture).

Witherspoon Building Figures: Samuel Davies, (sculpture).

Calder, Alexander Stirling, 1870-1945, sculptor.

Witherspoon Building Figures: Samuel Davies, (sculpture).

Samuel Davies, (sculpture).

1898-1899. Relocated 1961.

Digital Reference:

Sculpture: cast stone; Base: cast stone.

Sculpture: approx. H. 108 in.; Base: approx. H. 7 in. W. 37 in.

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 Samuel Davies dressed in a knee-length cape over a knee-length, buttoned coat with a tie at the neck. He has a large, wide-brimmed hat on his head which shields he face slightly. His arms are bent across his middle and are covered by the cape. His hands grasp the outside edge of the cape and pull it in front of him at his waist. His proper left hand rests on top on his right. His head faces forward and he look down slightly. He has short hair and a full beard. Constructed of four hollow, cast-stone segments joined by a 1/2-3/4 inch thick layer of mortar, the figure of Samuel Davies rests on a low, square-shaped, cast stone base.

Portrait male -- Davies, Samuel -- Full length

Dress -- Historic -- Eighteenth Century Dress

Occupation -- Education -- Teacher

Occupation -- Education -- Orator

Occupation -- Religion

Outdoor Sculpture -- Pennsylvania -- Philadelphia

Presbyterian Historical Society, 425 Lombard Street, Courtyard, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19147

Formerly located Witherspoon Building, Broad & Juniper streets, Walnut Street facade, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania ca. 1899-1961.

Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts Sixty Eighth Annual Exhibition, Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, Philadelphia, 1899.

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.

Samuel Davies (1723-1761) was the fourth president of the College of New Jersey. He was known for his strong beliefs in religious liberty and used the pulpit to give his great orations.

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

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.

Fairmount Park Art Assoc., "Sculpture of a City: Philadelphia's Treasures in Bronze & Stone," NY: Walker Publ., 1974, pg. 209.

For model see: 76009099.

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

Control Number:

Horizon Information Portal 3.25_9382

Powered by SirsiDynix

About | © 2020 Smithsonian | Terms of Use | Privacy | Contact

SIRIS - Smithsonian Institution Research Information System