John Ericsson Memorial, (sculpture).

John Ericsson Memorial, (sculpture).

Hartley, Jonathan Scott, 1845-1912, sculptor.

Wallis, A. E., architect.

Roman Bronze Works, founder.

Gorham Manufacturing Company, founder.

John Ericsson Memorial, (sculpture).

Original memorial dedicated April 26, 1893. Modified 1902. Rededicated August 1, 1903.

Statue: bronze; Base: granite or marble.

Statue: approx. H. 10 ft. Lower base: approx. 11 in. x 5 ft. 2 in. x 5 ft. 2 in; Upper base: approx. 6 1/2 ft. x 3 ft. 8 in. x 3 ft. 8 in.; Each relief on base: approx. H. 12 in. W. 27 1/2 in.

J. S. Hartley 1902/Gorham Mfg. and Founders (On reliefs:) Roman Bronze Works, Inc. (On North side of upper base:) THE CITY OF NEW YORK/ERECTS THIS STATUE TO THE/MEMORY OF A CITIZEN WHOSE/GENIUS HAS CONTRIGUTED/TO THE GREATNESS OF THE/REPUBLIC AND THE PROGRESS/OF THE WORLD/APRIL 26, 1893./ON JULY 31, 1803, JOHN ERICSSON WAS/BORN IN LANGSBANSHYTTEN, SWEDEN/DIED IN NEW YORK, MARCH 8, 1889 (South side of the upper base:) JOHN ERICSSON signed Founder's mark appears.

Figure stands on a pedestal carrying a model of the Monitor in one hand and a sheaf of drawings in the other. On the base are four reliefs showing the Princeton, the first screw-propelled war vessel; the battle between the Merrimac and the Monitor; an assortment of Ericsson's inventions and mechanical devices; and the use of the steam fire engine.

Portrait male -- Ericsson, John -- Full length

Occupation -- Science -- Inventor

Architecture -- Boat -- Monitor

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 Battery Park, New York, New York

Swedish-born Ericsson (1803-1889) is best known for his creation of the screw propeller and the inonclad, turreted fighting ship the Monitor. During the Civil War his Monitor battled the Merrimac at Hampton Roads, Virginia and the Monitor's success caused wooden battleships to become obsolete. When Ericsson died, the New York State legislature authorized the City of New York to raise 10,000 dollars through city taxes to erect this memorial. The original memorial was dedicated on April 26, 1893, but in 1902 the artist replaced the statue with a new and better version of the one erected in 1893. Gorham cast the statue and Roman Bronze Work cast the reliefs. The reliefs on the base were part of the original memorial. The Gayle and Cohen publication provides granite as the base medium and the SOS survey supplied marble as the base medium. For related article see: Wright, Carol von Pressentin, "Blue Guide New York," New York: W. W. Norton & Company, pg. 108-109. For further information see the New York Times, April 15, 1893 and Aug. 2, 1893.

Index of American Sculpture, University of Delaware, 1985

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

National Park Service, American Monuments and Outdoor Sculpture Database, NY0266, 1989.

Monumental News, Dec. 1891; Feb. and Sept. 1903.

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

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