George F. Baker Memorial, (sculpture).

George F. Baker Memorial, (sculpture).

Saint-Gaudens, Augustus, 1848-1907, sculptor.

Hering, Elsie Ward, 1872/74-1923, sculptor.

Saint-Gaudens, Louis, 1854-1913, sculptor. (possibly by)

Bacon, Henry, 1866-1924, architect. (possibly by)

Platt, Charles Adams, 1861-1933, architect. (possibly by)

George F. Baker Memorial, (sculpture).

George F. Baker Tomb, (sculpture).

1907. Copyrighted 1910. Dedicated Sept. 1911.

Digital Reference:

Christ: bronze; Stele: marble.

Christ: approx. 86 x 57 x 49 in.; Base: approx. 5 x 125 x 85 in.; Stele: approx. 11 ft. x 10 ft. 7 in. x 25 in.; Base: approx. 6 in. x 10 ft. 7 in. x 25 in.

(The artist's monogram appears on the plinth, right side, followed by:) MCMVII (On rear of plinth:) A. H. SAINT GAUDENS/MCMX (single copyright symbol appears between "SAINT" and "GAUDENS" and between "MC" and "MX") (Along top of stele in raised lettering:) BLESSED ARE/THE PURE IN HEART/FOR THEY SHALL SEE GOD (On stele, lower right:) DESIGNED BY AUGUSTUS SAINT GAUDENS/EXECUTED BY ELSIE WARD/(copyright symbol) BY AUGUSTUS SAINT GAUDENS MCMX signed

Full-length seated figure of Christ is installed on a low base behind which is an integral stele with reliefs of angels. Christ is seated on a rock and wears a long, belted garment with sandals and a halo. His proper right hand is raised in a gesture of benediction and his proper left hand rests on the rock. The angels flank the Christ figure. They wear flowing garments with foliated belts and garlands. Their hands are held in a prayer and their wings are spread out. The angels are full-length figures, with their arms and hands in high relief. There are olive branch reliefs over the angels' heads. The stele has architectural details which include square columns on each end and an apexed roof with pediment which contains a single rosette.

Religion -- New Testament -- Christ

Religion -- Angel

Homage -- Baker, George F.

Occupation -- Monetary -- Banker

Occupation -- Monetary -- Philanthropist

Outdoor Sculpture -- New York -- Valhalla

Administered by Baker Foundation & Bank Trustees, 273 Lakeview Avenue, Valhalla, New York 10595

Located Kensico Cemetery, Taconic Parkway, Valhalla, New York

Commissioned by George F. Baker (1840-1931), a banker and philanthropist from Troy, New York. United States Steel, American Telephone and Telegraph and New York Central Railroad are among the companies for whom Mr. Baker served as director. At Mr. Baker's request, the work's design recalls the Adams Memorial (IAS 77006107), also by Saint Gaudens. Much of the work was completed by Saint Gaudens' assistant, Elsie Ward Hering, though the attached excerpt from the Dryfhout book suggests that the angels may have been executed by Louis Saint Gaudens. IAS files contain excerpts from "The Reminiscences of Augustus Saint-Gaudens," by Augustus Saint-Gaudens, edited and amplified by Homer Saint-Gaudens, (New York: The Century Co., 1913, v. 2, pg. 356) and "The Work of Augustus Saint-Gaudens," by John Dryfhout, (Hanover, NH: University Press of New England, 1982, pg. 301).

Save Outdoor Sculpture, New York survey, 1994.

Dryfhout, John, "The Work of Augustus Saint-Gaudens," Hanover, NH: University Press of New England, 1982, pg. 301.

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