Commodore John Paul Jones, (sculpture).

Commodore John Paul Jones, (sculpture).

Niehaus, Charles Henry, 1855-1935, sculptor.

Grignola, John, 1861-1912, carver.

Hastings, Thomas, 1860-1929, architect.

Carrere & Hastings, architectural firm.

Harrison Granite Company, contractor.

Clark and Winston Company, contractor.

Ross and Republic Marble Company, contractor.

Commodore John Paul Jones, (sculpture).

John Paul Jones, (sculpture).

Commissioned 1909. Dedicated April 17, 1912.

Digital Reference:

Sculpture: bronze; Base: granite or Vermont marble; Pylon: marble. Fountains: marble.

Sculpture: approx. 130 x 38 x 43 in.; Base: approx. 268 x 164 x 119 in. (1,875 lbs.).

(Sculpture, top of bronze platform, proper left rear:) C.H.NIEHAUS Sc./1911 (Sculpture, top of bronze platform, proper right rear:) Gorham Co. Founders (Base, front:) 1747. 1792./FIRST/TO COMPEL FOREIGN/MAN-OF-WAR/TO STRIKE COLORS/TO THE/STARS AND STRIPES (Pylon, rear, above relief:) SURRENDER?/I HAVE NOT YET BEGUN TO FIGHT! (Pylon, rear, below relief:) IN LIFE HE HONORED/THE FLAG. IN DEATH THE/FLAG SHALL HONOR HIM signed Founder's mark appears.

Monument consists of a bronze sculpture of John Paul Jones installed on a low base in front of a large marble pylon with fountain basins on either side. The figure of John Paul Jones is standing, dressed in his military uniform, with his head turned slightly to the proper left as he watches a naval engagement from the deck of the Bon Homme Richard. Both hands are in fists and his proper left hand rests on his sword. A carved helmet amid foliage and a relief panel depicting axes, swords, and spears flank the small square base of the sculpture. On the pylon above the sculpture is a relief of an American eagle with a wreath on each side. On back of the pylon is a relief of John Paul Jones raising a flag on a British ship. All around the base and the pylon is a wider base which has three steps on both the north and south sides. A fountain basin is installed on the east and west sides. A dolphin spout pours water into each of the fountain basins. Above each dolphin is a relief panel depicting axes, spears, arrows, and other military equipment.

Portrait male -- Jones, John Paul -- Full length

Ethnic -- Scottish

Occupation -- Military -- Commodore

History -- United States -- Revolution

Dress -- Uniform -- Military Uniform

Object -- Weapon -- Sword

Object -- Other -- Flag

Animal -- Dolphin

Outdoor Sculpture -- District of Columbia -- Washington

Administered by United States Department of the Interior, National Park Service, Washington, District of Columbia

Located West Potomac Park, Northwest corner of Tidal Basin, Washington, District of Columbia

John Paul Jones (1747-1792) was born in Scotland as John Paul; the Jones was added later. In 1775, he joined the American navy where he had a distinguished career. Later he made a name for himself in the Russian navy. In 1905, his grave was discovered in Paris and his body was found to have been preserved in a barrel of rum. His body was sent to the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland where it was buried. Congress authorized a memorial to the naval hero on June 8, 1909 and 50,000 dollars was appropriated. The original installation site was Union Station, but it was thought too crowded and Franklin Park was selected, but turned down. The John Paul Jones Commission then approved Niehaus' selection of the current site near the Tidal Basin despite the need to drive piles for the installation. Clark and Winston Company was responsible for driving the piles necessary for the installation. Niehaus designed not only the sculpture, but also the pedestal base. John Grignolai assisted with the carving of the eagle and wreath, the two dolphins, and the relief on the base. Ross and Republic Marble Company did the stonework.

IAS files contain an excerpt from Jannelle Warren-Findley's Aug. 1, 1985 report for the National Park Service entitled, "A Guide to Selected Statues, Monuments and Memorials," National Capital Parks - Central, National Park Service, Washington, D.C. (RFQ 3-4-1919) which includes a brief maintenance history, a list of bibliographic sources, and notes to additional information found in National Park Service files. The report notes that the base medium is marble although SOS! survey notes that the medium is granite. IAS files also contain related articles from the Washington Star, March 3, 1910, pg. 16; July 24, 1910, pg. 3; Sept. 3, 1911, pg. 8; Nov. 14, 1911, pg. 4; Jan. 25, 1912, pg. 22; Feb. 22, 1912, pg. 20; March 30, 1912, pg. 16; April 10, 1912, pg. 22; April 16, 1912, pg. 3; April 17, 1912, pg. 13; and April, 18, 1912, pg. 24.

Index of American Sculpture, University of Delaware, 1985

National Park Service, American Monuments and Outdoor Sculpture Database, DC5012, 1989.

Goode, James M., "The Outdoor Sculpture of Washington, D.C., A Comprehensive Historical Guide," Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution Press, 1974, pg. 397.

Monumental News, July 1908; Jan. and Sept. 1910; Feb. 1913.

Save Outdoor Sculpture, District of Columbia survey, 1994.

Michael Richman, SAAM curatorial assistant, 1967-1969.

Goode, James M., "The Outdoor Sculpture of Washington, D.C., A Comprehensive Historical Guide," Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution Press, 1974, K-5.

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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