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Zeller, August,
Collins, Richard C.,
Rehnert, John,
Bureau Brothers,
History -- United States
Figure female -- Full length
Allegory -- Civic
Object -- Weapon
Object -- Foliage
Figure male -- Full length
Homage -- Biddle, Nicholas
Ethnic -- African American
Occupation -- Military
Occupation -- Military
Dress -- Uniform
Object -- Weapon
Outdoor Sculpture -- Pennsylvania -- Pottsville
Sculpture
Genius of Liberty, (sculpture).
Artist:
Zeller, August, 1863-1918, sculptor.
Collins, Richard C., contractor.
Rehnert, John, contractor.
Bureau Brothers, founder.
Title:
Genius of Liberty, (sculpture).
Other Titles:
Soldier's Monument, (sculpture).
Dates:
ca. 1889-1891. Dedicated Oct. 1, 1891.
Digital Reference:
Medium:
Sculpture: bronze; Base: granite and concrete.
Dimensions:
Liberty: approx. 9 x 2 x 2 ft.; Figures at base, each: approx. 6 x 2 x 1 ft.; Pedestal and base: approx. 18 x 10 x 10 ft.
Inscription:
Zeller sc. Bureau Bros Bronze Founders Phila (On cavalryman:) Zeller, Sculpt 89 (Bronze plaque on west face of base:) IN MEMORY OF/THE FIRST DEFENDERS/AND NICHOLAS BIDDLE/OF POTTSVILLE/FIRST MAN TO SHED BLOOD/IN THE CIVIL WAR/APRIL 18, 1861/ERECTED BY/THE CITIZENS OF/POTTSVLLE/APRIL 18, 1951 LOVE HONOR RENOWN AND LASTING/REMEMBRANCE FOR THOSE WHO FOUGHT/FOR FREEDOM AND AN IMPERILED COUNTY,/MAY POSTERITY PROFIT BY THEIR EXAMPLE/DULCE ET DECORUM EST PRO PATRIA MORIT. (On column:) GETTYSBURG
(On south face:) THE WASHINGTON ARTILLERY AND NATIONAL/LIGHT INFANTRY OF POTTSVILLE. 246 MEN. WERE A PART OF THE 530 PENNSYLVANIANS/WHO FIRST ARRIVED FOR THE DEFENSE/OF THE NATIONAL CAPITOL. APRIL 18, 1861. (On column:) APPOMATOX (On east face:) ERECTED A.D. 1891/THIS MEMORIAL IS THE TRIBUTE OF/ SCHUYLKILL COUNTY. TO HER BRAVE SONS/WHO SERVED IN DEFENSE OF THE UNION/1861-1865 FORT SUMTER (On north face:) FROM A POPULATION OF 90,000 SCHUYLKILL/COUNTY. DURING THE WAR OF SECESSION/GAVE TO THE ARMY AND NAVY OF THE/UNION 13,000 VOLUNTEERS. EMANCIPATION signed Founder's mark appears.
Description:
Elaborate war memorial comprised of a robed female figure, representing Liberty, holding a sword at her side in her proper left hand, and a laurel wreath in her extended proper right hand. She stands atop a tall Corinthian column, atop tiered pedestal with, near the base, a squared structure with four corner columns and peaked gables, and four military figures on projecting corners. The figures include an infantryman, a cavalryman, an artilleryman, and a sailor.
The infantryman, dressed in uniform, with knapsack, rolled blanket and backpack, stands grasping a rifle in his proper left hand. The butt of the rifle rests on the ground. The cavalryman with goatee stands at parade rest with hands on hilt of a sword, pointed downward and held in front of his body. The artillery man has a beard and stands at parade rest holding a rammer in his proper right hand at his side. The sailor is clean-shaven, dressed in uniform, and stands with arms folded at chest.
Subject:
History -- United States -- Civil War
Figure female -- Full length
Allegory -- Civic -- Liberty
Object -- Weapon -- Sword
Object -- Foliage -- Laurel
Figure male -- Full length
Homage -- Biddle, Nicholas
Ethnic -- African American
Occupation -- Military -- Soldier
Occupation -- Military -- Sailor
Dress -- Uniform -- Military Uniform
Object -- Weapon -- Gun
Object Type:
Outdoor Sculpture -- Pennsylvania -- Pottsville
Sculpture
Owner:
Administered by City of Pottsville, 401 North Centre Street, Pottsville, Pennsylvania 17901
Located Garfield Square, 5th & Market Streets, Pottsville, Pennsylvania
Remarks:
The sculpture honors war veterans from the area and a Pottsville native, Nicholas Biddle, a black resident, who was reportedly the first soldier to shed blood in the Civil War (struck by a bullet in Baltimore). The monument has been cleaned several times, including sandblasting done by a local contractor. The sculpture cost $14,000. IAS files contain article from The Patriot-News.
For further reading see Pottsville Republication, Oct. 1 & 2, 1891; and History of Pottsville & Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, 1934-1935, vol. 1, Pottsville, PA: J. H. Zerdey newspapers, 1936.
References:
Save Outdoor Sculpture, Pennsylvania survey, 1994.
National Park Service, American Monuments and Outdoor Sculpture Database, PA5083, 1989.
Monumental News, March 1889; Sept. and Nov. 1891.
Illustration:
Image on file.
Note:
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.
Repository:
Inventories of American Painting and Sculpture, Smithsonian American Art Museum, P.O. Box 37012, MRC 970, Washington, D.C. 20013-7012
Control Number:
IAS PA001746
Copy/Holding information
Smithsonian AmericanArt Museum
Control Number
Inventory of American Sculpture
PA001746
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