Commodore George Hamilton Perkins, (sculpture).

Commodore George Hamilton Perkins, (sculpture).

French, Daniel Chester, 1850-1931, sculptor.

Bacon, Henry, 1866-1924, architect.

Henry-Bonnard Bronze Company, founder.

Troy White Granite Company, contractor.

Commodore George Hamilton Perkins, (sculpture).

1901. Dedicated April 25, 1902.

Digital Reference:

Sculpture and reliefs: bronze; Exedra base: Troy white granite and Tennessee marble.

Sculpture: approx. 7 1/2 ft. x 26 in. x 35 in.; Exedra: 20 ft. x 42 x 20 ft.

(On plinth:) DANIEL C. FRENCH SCULPTOR THE HENRY BONNARD BRONZE CO. N.Y. 1901 (On base, lengthy inscription summarizing his career:) GEORGE HAMILTON PERKINS/COMMODORE UNITED STATES NAVY/BORN AT HOPKINTON NEW HAMPSHIRE OCTOBER 20, 1835/DIED IN BOSTON MASSACHUSETTS OCTOBER 28 1899/ENTERED THE NAVY AS MIDSHIPMAN OCTOBER 1 1851/HE SERVED HIS COUNTRY WITH HONOR FORTY-EIGHT YEARS/GENIAL AND LOVABLE AS A MAN ABLE AND RESOURCEFUL AS AN/OFFICER GALLANT AND INSPIRING AS A LEADER HIS INTREPID CONDUCT/AT THE PASSAGE OF THE FORT BELOW NEW ORLEANS HIS HEROISM AT/THE SURRENDER OF THAT CITY HIS SKILL AND DARING ON NOTABLE OCCASIONS/ON THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER AND IN THE GULF OF MEXICO HIS ACHIEVEMENTS IN MOBILE BAY WHEN AS COMMANDER OF THE CHICKASAW/HE COMPELLED THE SURRENDER OF THE TENNESSEE WON FROM THE NAVY/UNQUALIFIED ADMIRATION AND FROM FARRAGUT THESE WORDS/'THE BRAVEST MAN THAT EVER TROD THE DECK OF A SHIP." 562/9:: (On granite floor of monument in front of the centerpiece: list of major battles) (ON bronze relief at south end of monument:) MOBILE BAY/AUGUST V. MCDDLXIV/AFTER A SEVERE BATTLE WITH THE/CHICKASAW THE/TENNESSEE SURRENDERED (On bronze relief at north end of monument:) APRIL XXIV MDCCCLXII/IN THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER/BELOW FORT ST PHILIP THE/CAUYGA DEFEATED THREE REBEL/GUNBOATS INCLUDING THE GOVERNOR/MOORE AND THE RAM MANASSAS (On small bronze plaque on rear of centerpiece of the monument:) ERECTED IN LOVING MEMORY/BY HIS/WIFE AND DAUGHTER signed Founder's mark appears.

Bronze portrait statue of Commodore Perkins, stands on stone base carved to represent bow of ship. The statue is set within an arched niche on free standing 42 foot long exedra wall, with reliefs, seals and text plaques. Perkins is depicted standing in full dress uniform with epaulettes, proper right foot stepping forward. He holds a sword with his proper left hand, the tip of the sword resting on the ground. He holds a hat next to his side, in his proper right arm. The statue is stands on a projection, ornamented with a carved eagle's had, placed within an arched niche.

On the front of the centerpiece above the niche are two nude relief figures representing Peace and War. The figures are mirror images of each other. Peace is a nude winged female figure, shown lying back with proper right arm extended to hold a palm branch and proper left arm holding a wreath. War is a nude winged male figure, dressed only in sandals. He holds a snake in his proper right hand; and blows a long horn which he holds with his proper left hand. On the sides of the centerpiece are trophies, each with crossed flags, a seal, and crowning eagle. On one side is the seal of the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis, Maryland; on the other, the seal of the State of New Hampshire.

At each end of the granite exedra is a bronze relief. The relief at the north end depicts the Battle of the Cayuga, with rebel gunboats on the Mississippi River. In the center of the relief, the two-masted Cayuga, fires its guns, sinking a rebel vessel on the left. Another sailing ship is in the background. The south relief depicts the battle of Mobile Bay. The relief shows the bay, with a masonry fort on land and palm trees. In the center, is the rebel ironclad Tennessee and the Chickasaw.

Portrait male -- Perkins, George Hamilton -- Full length

Occupation -- Military -- Commodore

History -- United States -- Civil War

History -- United States -- Battle of Chickasaw

History -- United States -- Battle of Mobile

State of Being -- Evil -- War

Architecture -- Boat -- Chickasaw

Architecture -- Boat -- Tennessee

Architecture -- Boat -- Cayuga

Architecture -- Boat -- Warship

Figure female -- Nude

Allegory -- Civic -- Peace

Figure male -- Nude

Allegory -- Civic -- War

Outdoor Sculpture -- New Hampshire -- Concord

Administered by State of New Hampshire, Administrative Services, State House Annex, Capitol Street, Room 120, Concord, New Hampshire 03301

Located New Hampshire State House, Rear of Capitol Building, Concord, New Hampshire

George Hamilton Perkins, d. 1899, was a Hopkinton native, who graduated from the Naval Academy in 1856, and served as first lieutenant of the Cayuga and commander of the Chickasaw at the Battle of Mobile Bay. The monument was a gift of Mrs. Isabel Anderson, daughter of George H. Perkins, and her mother Anna W. Perkins. It was dedicated on April 25, 1902, the 40th anniversary of the Passage of the Fort, Perkin's first battle. (A replica of the statue was unveiled at the Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, May 29, 1911).

IAS files contain copy of "Official Proceedings at the Dedication of the Statue of Commodore George Hamilton Perkins at Concord, New Hampshire on the 25th Day of April, 1902," (Concord, 1903); and excerpt from David Ruell's "The Public Sculpture of New Hampshire," Concord, NH: New Hampshire Historical Society Library), 1980; pg. 145-149.

Save Outdoor Sculpture, New Hampshire survey, 1993.

Index of American Sculpture, University of Delaware, 1985.

National Park Service, American Monuments and Outdoor Sculpture Database, NH0006, 1989.

Monumental News, Aug., 1902, pg. 467.

Monumental News, Aug., 1902, pg. 467.

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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