Francis Scott Key Grave and Monument, (sculpture).

Francis Scott Key Grave and Monument, (sculpture).

Doyle, Alexander, 1857-1922, sculptor.

Batterson, contractor.

Francis Scott Key Grave and Monument, (sculpture).

Dedicated June 2, 1881.

Sculpture: bronze; Base: stone.

Sculpture: approx. 15 ft. x 80 in. x 80 in.; Base: approx. 10 ft. x 80 in. x 80 in.

(On plaque at the rear of the monument:) WRITTEN BY/FRANCIS SCOTT KEY/BORN DIED/AUGUST 9, 1780 (sic) JANUARY 11, 1843/THE STAR SPANGLED BANNER/ (Four verses follow)

A full-length figure of Francis Scott Key stands on a cylindrical pedestal with a round base. Key is dressed in an early eighteenth century suit and cloak. He points outward with his proper right hand and holds his folded hat in his raised proper left hand. At the base of the pedestal is an allegorical figure group consisting of a woman, representing Liberty, and two children, representing Youth. The woman is seated and holds a flag and pole in her proper left hand. She wears a Classical garment and her hair is pinned up. A small child stands under her proper left arm, between her and the flag. An older boy stands to her proper right, and leans on a sword. A relief depicting the seal for the state of Maryland is affixed to the area below the feet of the allegorical figure grouping. The seal is decorated with laurel and oak leaves and a large palm frond. A plaque on the rear of the monument contains the lyrics to "The Star Spangled Banner" and a relief depicting of Francis Scott Key in an oval. Decorative elements on this plaque include cherubs, seated nude muses (one holds a lyre, the other a writing pen), eagles, a flag and foliage.

Portrait male -- Key, Francis Scott -- Full length

Performing Arts -- Music -- Composer

Figure female -- Full length

Allegory -- Civic -- Liberty

Allegory -- Life -- Youth

Literature -- Key -- Star Spangled Banner

Dress -- Historic -- Classical Dress

Mythology -- Classical -- Muse

Object -- Musical Instrument -- Lyre

Object -- Other -- Writing Tool

Animal -- Bird -- Eagle

Object -- Other -- Flag

Outdoor Sculpture -- Maryland -- Frederick

Mount Olivet Cemetery, 515 South Market Street, Frederick, Maryland 21701

Gift of the Ladies Monument Association of Frederick. The sculpture was restored in the summer of 1994 by Nicolas Veloz. Nearby plaque reads: FRANCIS SCOTT KEY/AUTHOR OF/"THE STAR SPANGLED BANNER"/BORN IN FREDERICK COUNTY, MARYLAND, 1779/DIED IN BALTIMORE 1843 AND THERE BURIED./REMOVED TO FREDERICK 1866 AND INTERRED/IN FAMILY LOT./IN 1898 THE REMAINS OF FRANCIS SCOTT KEY/AND MARY TAYLOE LLOYD KEY, HIS WIFE, WERE/PLACED WITHIN THE CRYPT IN THE BASE OF THE MONUMENT/ERECTED BY THE KEY MONUMENT/ASSOCIATION OF FREDERICK, MARYLAND. IAS files include a related article from the Frederick Post, Sept. 14, 1985.

Save Outdoor Sculpture, Maryland survey, 1994.

National Park Service, American Monuments and Outdoor Sculpture Database, MD0025, 1989.

Monumental News, March 1897, pg. 174.

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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