Forlorn Soldier, (sculpture).

Forlorn Soldier, (sculpture).

New England Granite Works, fabricator. (attributed to)

Forlorn Soldier, (sculpture).

Digital Reference:

Sculpture: brownstone.

Sculpture: approx. 7 x 2 x 1 1/2 ft.; Base: approx. 13 x 46 x 46 in.

(On front of base, bronze plaque, raised letters:) DUM TACET CLAMAT/REJECTED AFTER THE CIVIL WAR FOR A FAULTY FOOT/POSITION, THIS BROWNSTONE UNION SOLDIER WAS/ACQUIRED IN 1895 BY MICHAEL H. AND JOHN KELLY,/STONE CUTTERS, PLACED AT THE CORNER OF CHARTER/OAK AVENUE AND UNION STREET IN HARTFORD WHERE,/BUFFETED BY FLOOD AND BRUISED BY VANDALS, HE STOOD/UNTIL 1968 WHEN J. MICHAEL KELLY, A GRANDSON, MOVED/HIM TO A FAIRER SITE, RESTORING HIS SHATTERED ENTITY/WITH THE LOVING CARE HE HAD BEEN SO LONG DENIED. unsigned

A Civil War soldier stands with his proper right foot forward, with a remnant of the rifle butt near the inside of his foot; the rifle is missing. He is dressed in uniform in a long overcoat, with cape thrown back of the shoulders. A bayonet and kit are fastened to his belt. The figure has a beard and wears a cap. The sculpture is mounted on a truncated pyramid base.

History -- United States -- Civil War

Figure male -- Full length

Occupation -- Military -- Soldier

Dress -- Uniform -- Military Uniform

Outdoor Sculpture -- Connecticut -- Hartford

Administered by Metropolitan District, Real Estate Management, 555 Main Street, Hartford, Connecticut 06114

Located 119 Airport Road, Hartford, Connecticut

Acquired from Kelly Brothers, Hartford, Connecticut

Formerly in the collection of James G. Batterson, Charter Oak Avenue & Union Street, Hartford, Connecticut

The sculpture is believed to have been done sometime prior to 1895. It was on the grounds of the Batterson stone yard (Charter Oak Avenue), when the company was purchased by the Kelly Brothers in 1895. The Kelly brothers moved their company to Airport Road around 1938, but the statue remained behind on Charter Oak Avenue. There it was subject to flood and vandalism. In 1968, because of its deteriorated condition, the sculpture was moved by the Kelly's to their property on Airport Road. When, subsequently, the Pistritto family bought the shop and land, the sculpture and the small parcel of land on which it stands were purchased by The Metropolitan District.

For additional information see The Hartford Courant, Nov. 17, 1968; May 25, 1986; and "Hartford's Outdoor Sculpture," Trinity College, 1981, pg. 74.

Save Outdoor Sculpture, Connecticut survey, 1994.

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

Control Number:

Horizon Information Portal 3.0

Powered by SirsiDynix

About | © 2020 Smithsonian | Terms of Use | Privacy | Contact

SIRIS - Smithsonian Institution Research Information System