Washington Arch: Spandrel Panels, (sculpture).

Washington Arch: Spandrel Panels, (sculpture).

MacMonnies, Frederick William, 1863-1937, sculptor.

White, Stanford, 1853-1906, architect.

Grandin, Leon, assistant.

Piccirilli Brothers Marble Carving Studios, carver.

Washington Arch: Spandrel Panels, (sculpture).

Spandrel Panels, (sculpture).

Memorial Arch, (sculpture).

Washington Square Arch: Spandrel Figures, (sculpture).

Peace, War, Fame, and Prosperity, (sculpture).

1889-1892. May 4, 1895.

Digital Reference:

Tuckahoe marble.

4 relief figures. Each spandrel: 138 x 132 in. (350.5 x 335.3 cm)

In each of the four spandrels located along the top edge on either side of the archway there is a winged female figure. The two figures on the north side represent War (right side) and Peace (left side). The two figures on the south side represent Prosperity (right side) and Fame (left side).

Figure female -- Full length

Allegory -- Civic -- War

Allegory -- Civic -- Peace

Allegory -- Quality -- Wealth

Allegory -- Quality -- Grandeur

Outdoor Sculpture -- New York -- New York

Administered by City of New York, Department of Parks and Recreation, The Arsenal - Central Park, New York, New York 10021

Located Washington Square, New York, New York

Stanford White designed the arch. The inscription on the north facade of the arch reads: TO COMMEMORATE THE HUNDREDETH ANNIVERSARY OF THE INAUGURATION OF GEORGE WASHINGTONAS FIRST PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES ERECTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE CITY OF NEW YORK. The inscription on the south facade of the arch reads: LET US RAISE ASTANDARD TO WHICH THE WISE AND HONEST CAN REPAIR THE EVENT IS IN THE HAND OF GOD WASHINGTON MDCCLXXXIX.

For related information see: Stewart, William R., "Washington Arch: An Illustrated Memorial History," New York: Ford & Garrett, 1895 which includes much detailed history of the funding; the "Final Report of the Washington Arch Committee," 1918; and the New York Times, July 9, 1966 which describes the 1935 and 1966 cleaning of the arch. New York Historical Society files also contain historical drawings, printed illustrations and photographs. IAS image files contain an overview photo of entire arch which shows two of the spandrel figures. The Gayle and Cohen publication also contains an image of just two of the spandrel figures. Monumental News, Feb. 1894, reports that cracks in the arch were discovered in 1894.

Gayle, Margot & Michele Cohen, "Guide to Manhattan's Outdoor Sculpture," New York: Prentice Hall, 1988, pg. 74.

Lederer, Joseph, "All Around the Town: A Walking Guide to Outdoor Sculpture in New York City," New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1975.

National Park Service, American Monuments and Outdoor Sculpture Database, NY0075, 1989.

Monumental News, Feb. 1894; March 1914.

Save Outdoor Sculpture, New York, New York survey, 1993.

Bronx Times, July 15, 1999, pg. 7.

Smart, Mary, "A Flight with Fame: the life and art of Frederick MacMonnies, with a Catalogue Raisonne of Sculpture and a Checklist of Paintings by E. Adina Gordon," Madison, CT: Sound View Press, 1996, no. 36.

Gayle, Margot & Michele Cohen, "Guide to Manhattan's Outdoor Sculpture," New York: Prentice Hall, 1988, pg. 74.

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