The Guardian, (sculpture).

The Guardian, (sculpture).

Greaves, Jack, 1928- , sculptor.

Siorini Foundry, founder.

The Guardian, (sculpture).

Toledo Police Memorial Sculpture, (sculpture).

1982. Dedicated Sept. 4, 1982.

Digital Reference:

Sculpture: bronze; Base: travertine marble.

Sculpture: approx. 6 ft. x 6 ft. 5 in. x 31 in.; Base: approx. 27 in. x 6 ft. 9 in. x 3 ft. 3 in.

(On plaque on top of base:) (Incised lettering:) THE GUARDIAN/BY/JACK GREAVES/CAST BY (Stamped:) Florint (sic) London/SEPT 82 signed Founder's mark appears.

A sculpture of four children, poised to walk across the street, being directed by a policeman. The policeman stands in the middle, dressed in an early 1900s police uniform. He wears a buttoned-down, knee-length coat and policeman's cap. His face is turned towards his proper right as if he were watching traffic. His feet are close together with his body slanted forward at an awkward angle and his stomach protruding, as if he were peering down the street but could fall at any moment. His proper right arm is extended back for balance and acts as protection for the children. His proper left hand is raised with thumb and index fingers pointing to the sky as a caution sign.

At the policeman's proper left is a small boy with wavy hair parted on the proper left side. His proper left arm is bent across the front of his body. He is dressed in knickers, socks and a loose jacket. To the proper right of the police officer are three children. A little girl with short, curly hair stands closest to him. She is dressed in a knee-length skirt and a long-sleeved blouse with a bow at the neck. An older brother and his sister stand close together to her proper right, a step ahead of her. The little girl turns her head to peer around them. The boy presses his proper right open hand into the middle of his sister's back as if he is looking after her. He faces slightly to the proper right looking for traffic. A brimmed hat covers much of his wavy hair. He is dressed in belted knickers and a blousy shirt with a tied bow at the neck. His sister stands with both feet flat on the ground, both arms pressed down against her sides, and an expression of concern on her face. She wears a knee-length dress with an overcoat one inch shorter than the dress. The overcoat is double-breasted with three buttons on each side, a very wide collar and full-length sleeves. A bonnet-like hat covers her curly hair. The sculpture is mounted on top of a rectangular base. This base sits on a low foundation of bricks placed perpendicular to the bricks of the plaza.

Portrait male -- Bruhl, Oscar O. -- Full length

Occupation -- Service -- Policeman

Dress -- Uniform -- Police Uniform

Allegory -- Other -- Vigilance

Outdoor Sculpture -- Ohio -- Toledo

Coadministered by City of Toledo, Arts Commission of Greater Toledo, 2201 Ottawa Parkway Drive, Toledo, Ohio 43606

Coadministered by Toledo Police Patrolman's Association, 1947 Franklin, Toledo, Ohio 43624

Located Toledo Police Memorial Garden, Civic Center Mall, behind Municipal Courthouse, Toledo, Ohio

The sculpture cost approximately $35,000 and was funded through contributions from Toledo police officers, local citizens, area groups, the Anderson Foundation, and a matching grant from the Ohio Arts Council. The sculpture recognizes Toledo police officers who have died in the line of duty. The project was spearheaded by the Toledo Police Memorial Committee and chairman, Harry Broadway. The sculpture was commissioned in 1982 by the Arts Commission of Greater Toledo in conjunction with the Toledo Patrolman's Association. The sculpture was modeled after a photograph, taken about 1915, of Patrolman Oscar O. Bruhl stopping traffic for a group of children. Mr. Bruhl, his grandson, and his great-grandson have all served on the Toledo Police Force. IAS files contain a photocopy of the historic photograph used by the artist. The sculpture was dedicated during opening ceremonies of the Toledo Festival, September 4, 1982. The sculpture was cleaned and waxed in 1990 by Daedalus Art Foundry (Petersburg, MI). IAS files contain a 1994 conservation treatment proposal from Venus Bronze Works (Detroit, MI). IAS files contain a news release about the dedication from the Arts Commission of Greater Toledo; and two related articles from The Blade (Toledo, OH), Aug. 23, 1982 and Sept. 5, 1982, pg. 1 and 4.

Save Outdoor Sculpture, Ohio, Toledo survey, 1994.

The Blade (Toledo, OH), Sept. 5, 1982, pg. 1.

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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