Soldiers and Sailors Civil War Monument, (sculpture).

Soldiers and Sailors Civil War Monument, (sculpture).

Rhind, John Massey, 1860-1936, sculptor.

Roman Bronze Works, founder.

Soldiers and Sailors Civil War Monument, (sculpture).

1914. Dedicated May 20, 1914.

Digital Reference:

Sculpture: bronze; Base: West Townsend granite.

Sculpture: approx. 11 ft. x 66 in. 42 1/2 in.; Base: approx. 107 x 126 x 126 in.

J. Massey Rhind (Base, front:) IN MEMORY OF THE/PUPILS OF GIRARD COLLEGE/WHO ENLISTED IN THE CONTEST/FOR THE PRESERVATION OF THE/AMERICAN UNION/1969 (Base, bronze plaque on back:) Extract From The Will of Stephan Girard/Especially I desire that by every/proper means, a pure attachment/to our republic institutions/shall be formed and fostered in/the minds of the scholars./GAVE LIVES FOR THE UNION (followed by a list of 29 names) (Base, bronze plaque on right side:) SERVED IN THE WAR FOR THE UNION (three columns of names) signed

A Civil War soldier and sailor stand side-by-side atop a square granite base. The sailor, on the proper left, holds a flag up with his proper right hand. The flag pole is adorned with an eagle on top. The soldier, on the proper right, holds a rifle vertically in front of him with both hands on the barrel. The flag unfurls behind the two figures as they stand in defense of the Union.

History -- United States -- Civil War

Figure group -- Male

Occupation -- Military -- Soldier

Occupation -- Military -- Sailor

Object -- Other -- Flag

Object -- Weapon -- Gun

Dress -- Uniform -- Military Uniform

Dress -- Accessory -- Hat

Outdoor Sculpture -- Pennsylvania -- Philadelphia

Administered by Girard College, Department of External Affairs, 2101 South College Avenue, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19121

Located Girard College, Girard & Corinthian Avenues, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

This sculpture replaces an earlier marble and sandstone Civil War monument, designed by Joseph A. Bailly and erected by William Struthers and Sons, which was installed on this site in 1869. By 1913 the deterioration of the monument was such that the Board of City Trusts governing Girard College replaced it with this J. Massey Rhind sculpture. A plaque from the original monument is attached to the back of the base. The monument cost $10,500. The monument committee was the Board of Directors of City Trusts. Additional information on both the original monument and this replacement can be found in Herrich, Cheesman A., "History of Girard College," pg. 306-307 and in Maillardet, Charles L., "One Hundred Years Girard College Band and Corps of Cadets 1869-1969," Wynnewood, PA: Livingston Publishing, pg. 4, 5, 85.

Fairmount Park Art Assoc., "Sculpture of a City: Philadelphia's Treasures in Bronze & Stone," NY: Walker Publ., 1974, pg. 225.

Save Outdoor Sculpture, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia survey, 1993.

National Park Service, American Monuments and Outdoor Sculpture Database, PA5029, 1989.

Monumental News, May 1913, April and July 1914.

Fairmount Park Art Assoc., "Sculpture of a City: Philadelphia's Treasures in Bronze & Stone," NY: Walker Publ., 1974, pg. 225.

Monumental News, July 1914, pg. 435.

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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