Soldiers Monument, (sculpture).

Soldiers Monument, (sculpture).

Taft, Lorado Zadoc, 1860-1936, sculptor. (attributed to)

Soldiers Monument, (sculpture).

Erected May 30, 1903.

Digital Reference:

Sculpture: bronze; Base: granite.

Sculpture: approx. 15 x 5 x 4 1/2 ft.; Base: approx. 20 x 10 x 10 ft.

(Lower front of base, raised:) JUSTICE (Lower rear of base, raised:) THEY GAVE TO THE WORLD UNDYING/PROOF OF THEIR HEROISM, LOYALTY,/AND PATRIOTISM./THESE MEN FOUGHT/THAT THE NATION MIGHT LIVE./WE OWE TO THEM THE BLESSINGS OF/CIVIL AND RELIGIOUS LIBERTY, AND THE/UPLIFTING OF OUR COUNTRY IN DIGNITY,/STRENGTH, AND SECURITY./THEIR DEEDS AND SACRIFICES ARE THE/PLEDGE OF THE LIBERTY, FRATERNITY, AND ENLIGHTENMENT OF THE/AMERICAN PEOPLE./(lower tier) FREEDOM (Lower side of base, raised:) THE NATIONAL PROCESS ACHIEVED BY/THEIR ARMS IS AN INSPIRATION FOR/THOSE WHO STRUGGLE FOR FREEDOM AND/HUMANITY THROUGHOUT THE WORLD./"WE CANNOT CONSECRATE,/WE CANNOT HALLOW THIS MONUMENT,/BRAVE MEN LIVING AND DEAD HAVE/CONSECRATED IT BY THEIR STRUGGLES/FAR ABOVE OUR POOR POWER TO ADD/OR DETRACT."/ABRAHAM LINCOLN./(lower tier) SELF GOVERNMENT (Inscription on other lower side of base)

Two uniformed Civil War soldiers stand on a rock formation, wearing visored caps. The first soldier holds a flag with both hands, with a saber at his proper left hip. The second soldier stands before him, holding a rifle in both hands and stepping on a rock with his proper right foot. The second soldier has a Vandyke beard and a moustache. The sculpture is mounted on a multitiered, base with a column-like upper section with scrolls on all four upper corners. Amidst the scrolls are an eagle on the front, an anchor on the back and a shield with two swords crossing at the tips on the one side. Mid-way down the column on the front there is a medal with possibly a bird on top and a star on the bottom. The corners of the lower base have four horizontal cannon barrels. On the lower front of the base there is a bas-relief plaque depicting a Civil War battle. A soldier on horseback directs soldiers loading and firing cannons, while bodies lie on the ground in front of them. All four sides of the lower base are inscribed. The bottom of the base is stepped. The monument is in a park-like setting, surrounded by plaques that may be war-related.

History -- United States -- Civil War

Figure group -- Male

State of Being -- Evil -- War

Architecture -- Military -- Battlefield

Occupation -- Military -- Soldier

Literature -- Lincoln

State of Being -- Death

Dress -- Uniform -- Military Uniform

Object -- Weapon -- Cannon

Outdoor Sculpture -- Michigan -- Battle Creek

McCamly Park, Gould Street & West Van Buren, Battle Creek, Michigan

Save Outdoor Sculpture, Michigan survey, 1993.

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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