Angel of Truth, (sculpture).

Angel of Truth, (sculpture).

Berge, Henry, 1908- , sculptor.

Capellano, Antonio, sculptor. (copy after)

Godefroy, Maximilian, ca. 1770-ca. 1837, architect.

Angel of Truth, (sculpture).

First Unitarian Church: Tympanum Sculpture, (sculpture).

Original 1818. 1960.

Digital Reference:

Approx. 12 x 28 ft. (2000 lbs.).

(On scroll held by angel: Greek lettering) unsigned

The tympanum over the entrance to the church features a standing figure of a winged angel with beams of sun radiating from behind him and puffy clouds floating along on either side of him. The angel stands on a low, square box and in his hands he holds a scroll which he unrolls in front of him. The scroll bears a Greek inscription which translates as "To the one God."

Religion -- Angel

Outdoor Sculpture -- Maryland -- Baltimore

First Unitarian Church, 12 West Franklin Street, Pediment over entrance, Baltimore, Maryland

In 1958, Henry Berge was commissioned by the church congregation to create an exact replica of the church's terra cotta tympanum sculpture, the "Angel of Truth," which was originally executed for the church by Antonio Capellano in 1818. The architect of the church, Maximilian Godefroy, is believed to have sketched the design for the sculpture. By 1900, the original sculpture (IAS 75006007) had begun to deteriorate and by 1955 was so damaged that the church removed what was left to avoid danger from falling fragments. The replica was fired during the summer and fall of 1959 in a special kiln built in the basement of Mr. Berge's studio at 217 West Lanvale Street. Eighty-one separate pieces were fired. The work was built with sections which were fitted together on site. When the tympanum sculpture was finished, a special church service was held in celebration.

IAS Files contain related articles from: The Sun (Baltimore, MD), July 20, 1958 and June 8, 1960; The Evening Sun (Baltimore, MD) July 29, 1958; April 29, 1960; April 30, 1960; Baltimore American, Dec. 13, 1959; Aug. 10, 1958; and June 5, 1960; and the Baltimore Gas & Electric newsletter, Feb. 1961. For additional information see: Henry and Caroline Naylor's "Public Monuments & Sculpture of Baltimore: An Introduction to the Collection," 1987 and Wilbur Harvey Hunter's "The Monumental City, The Rinehart School of Sculpture 75th Anniversary Catalogue 1896-1971," pg. 16-47.

Index of American Sculpture, University of Delaware, 1985

The Peale Museum.

Save Outdoor Sculpture, Maryland, Baltimore survey, 1992.

The Evening Sun (Baltimore, MD), April 30, 1960.

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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