The Four Freedoms Monument, (sculpture).

The Four Freedoms Monument, (sculpture).

Russell, Walter, 1871-1963, sculptor.

The Four Freedoms Monument, (sculpture).

Copyrighted 1943. Dedicated June 14, 1944.

Digital Reference:

Sculpture: cast stone (marble aggregate in cement); Base: masonry.

Sculpture: approx. H. 7 1/2 ft.; Base: approx. H. 7 ft x W. 5 ft. 1/2 in.

(On lower front of sculpture:) 19 (copyright symbol) 43 by Walter Russell (On bronze plaque, front of base:) A tribute from the nation to honor Colin Kelly, first American hero of World War II, 1915-1941. Greater love hath no man than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. signed

Four robed angels, two male and two female, face outward with their backs to one another. Each is in a different activity --praying, holding a sword, holding a document, or holding grapes. The angels have long wings which extend upward, the tips of which touch those of the other angels on either side. The sculpture is mounted atop a tall, multitiered base with a plaque.

Religion -- Angel

Allegory -- Civic -- Liberty

Homage -- Kelly, Colin P., Jr.

Outdoor Sculpture -- Florida -- Madison

Administered by City of Madison, 109 West Rutledge Street, Madison, Florida 32340

Located City Park, Corner of Range Street & Highway 90 West, Madison, Florida

The title, Four Freedoms, refers to Franklin Roosevelt's State of the Union speech given on Jan. 6, 1941, in which he discussed Nazi occupation in Europe, and urged Americans in deciding about involvement in the war, that it was important to look at our country's national values that are embodied in four freedoms: freedom of speech, freedom of worship, freedom from want, freedom from fear. In Dec. 1941, when America entered World War II, a Madison, Florida man, Captain Colin P. Kelly, was one of the first to die in combat. Returning to base after lauching his B-17 bomber to attack the Japanese naval forces in the Philippines, his bomber was shot down. The crew was able to parachute to safety while Capt. Kelly kept the aircraft under control, but before Kelly could escape, the plane went out of control and crashed, carrying the young pilot to his death. Kelly was proclaimed America's first hero of the war, and as the war progressed, President Roosevelt felt it was important for the nation to have a memorial to recognize the young flier's sacrifice. Roosevelt's inspiration was to commission a monument that would commemorate the Four Freedoms speech and would honor the memory of Colin Kelly. Roosevelt commissioned Walter Russell to create the monument, which was unveiled at Madison Square Garden during a large war bond rally in early 1944. The monument was scheduled to be installed in Kelly's home state of Florida, on the grounds of the Capitol in Tallahassee. Kelly's father appealed to the governor to have the monument installed in Madison, and the governor agreed.

Nearby plaque reads: (inscribed symbol)/THE FOUR FREEDOMS MONUMENT/The four Freedoms were stated by President/Franklin D. Roosevelt in his Annual Message/to Congress, January 6, 1941. Freedom of speech/and expression, freedom of worship, freedom/from want, and freedom from fear everywhere/in the world, became the ideals of American/Policy. The memorial, symbolizing these aspi-/rations of mankind, was designed by Walter/Russell, given by Women's National Institute,/and dedicated to the memory of World War II/hero, Captain Colin P. Kelly, Jr., June 14, 1944./SPONSORED BY MADISON COUNTY MEMORIAL POST NO. 68. THE AMERICAN LEGION/IN COOPERATION WITH/DEPARTMENT OF STATE. BUREAU OF HISTORIC PRESERVATION (On left side of last line:) F-178 (On right side of last line:) 1970

Save Outdoor Sculpture, Florida survey, 1995.

SOS Assessment Award, 2000.

SOS Conservation Treatment Award, 2001.

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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