Wrenn Memorial, (sculpture).

Wrenn Memorial, (sculpture).

Maurecinni, sculptor.

Wrenn Memorial, (sculpture).

Dedicated Nov. 11, 1923.

Sculpture: marble; Base: concrete.

Sculpture: approx. 70 x 18 x 18 in.; Base: approx. 73 1/4 x 72 x 72 in.

(On metal plaques, each side of base: names of 591 World War I servicemen, including 14 deceased) (At top of each plaque:) "THIS MONUMENT/IS DEDICATED TO THE MEMORY OF THE MEN/OF HIGH POINT, N.C. WHO SERVED GOD AND THEIR/1917.COUNTRY IN THE WORLD WAR.1918" (At center bottom of each plaque:) (North side:) "PATRIOTISM" (East side:) "SERVICE" (South side:) "JUSTICE" (West side:) "HONOR" unsigned

A World War I soldier stands with his proper right arm bent forward at the elbow holding an Enfield rifle by the barrel end. His proper left arm hangs at his side holding a grenade. He wears spiral leggings, a hip-length jacket with ammunition belt, and a helmet. His proper left leg is supported in back by a rough-carved stone from bottom of buttocks to the base. The sculpture is mounted upon a rectangular base with a tapered bottom.

History -- United States -- World War I

Figure male -- Full length

Occupation -- Military -- Soldier

Dress -- Uniform -- Military Uniform

Outdoor Sculpture -- North Carolina -- High Point

Administered by City of High Point, Parks and Recreation Department, Landscaping Division, 1041 West Ward Avenue, High Point, North Carolina 27260

Located Hayden Place, Near bus depot downtown, High Point, North Carolina

The sculpture honors those who served during World War I from the High Point area. It was given to the City of High Point by Mr. and Mrs. M. J. Wrenn. Robert Brockett presented the sculpture to High Point during a dedication ceremony on Armistice Day, November 11, 1923. Mr. Wrenn commissioned a Baltimore agency, who hired an Italian artist, to create the sculpture. Once the sculpture was installed, questions were raised by ex-servicemen over the authenticity of some of the details of the soldier's equipment and uniform. Some believed that the soldier's leggings and helmet, in particular, were not the same as those worn by American soldiers overseas. IAS files contain related articles from the Sunday Enterprise (High Point, NC), Nov. 11, 1923 and the Enterprise (High Point, NC), Nov. 12, 1923.

Save Outdoor Sculpture, North Carolina survey, 1994.

Sunday Enterprise (High Point, NC), Nov. 11, 1923.

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