Karel Jonas Monument, (sculpture).

Karel Jonas Monument, (sculpture).

Korbel, Mario Joseph, 1882-1954, sculptor.

Florentine Brotherhood Foundry, founder.

Karel Jonas Monument, (sculpture).

Dedicated May 30, 1912. Relocated 1935.

Digital Reference:

Sculpture: bronze; Base: granite or concrete.

Sculpture: approx. 9 x 4 1/2 x 4 1/2 ft. (11 tons); Base: approx. 10 x 6 x 6 ft. (33 tons).

(East side of base:) TO THE GREAT LEADER/OF BOHEMIAN-AMERICANS/CHARLES JONAS/ERECTED BY HIS GRATEFUL/COUNTRYMEN/BORN 1840 IN BOHEMIA/DIED 1896 AS AN AMERICAN CONSUL/IN CREFELD/1912. (West side of plinth:) J. M. Korbel (West side of base, incised:) TO THE TRUE AND FAITHFUL SON/OF HIS ADOPTED COUNTRY/1878 MEMBER OF ASSEMBLY/1883-1886 SENATOR/1891-1892 AND 1893-1894 LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR/OF THE STATE OF WISCONSIN. (Front of base, raised:) KAREL JONAS (Front of base, incised:) 1840 - 1896/PAMATCE-VELKEHO/CECHO-AMERICANA/POSTAVILI-VDECNI/JEHO-CTITELE (Base has small bronze marker denoting statue as a Racine Landmark) signed Founder's mark appears.

Portrait of Karel Jonas, standing, dressed in a suit and consular robes. He has a mustache. He holds a book in his proper left hand.

Portrait male -- Jonas, Karel -- Full length

Occupation -- Political -- Diplomat

Occupation -- Political -- Lieutenant Governor

Occupation -- Political -- Senator

Occupation -- Writer -- Journalist

Outdoor Sculpture -- Wisconsin -- Racine

Coadministered by City of Racine, Racine Parks Service, Park Management, 800 Center Street, Room 127, Racine, Wisconsin 53403

Coadministered by Racine County Museum, 701 South Main Street, Racine, Wisconsin 53403

Located Flat Iron Square, Junction of Douglas Avenue, High Street and Dr. Martin Luther King Drive, Racine, Wisconsin

Formerly located North Side Park, 1300 block of Michigan Boulevard, Racine, Wisconsin 1912-1935.

The sculpture cost $5,000, and was funded by Bohemian-American residents of Racine. Karel Jonas (1840-1896) was a native of Bohemia who came to Racine in 1863 after having been banished from Prague in 1860 for writing an essay critical of the middle school system. Jonas was elected to the Wisconsin Assembly in 1877, and later served as state senator and lieutenant governor from 1891-1894. He was also appointed as American consul-general in St. Petersburg, Russia, under President Grover Cleveland. The sculpture was originally located in North Side Park (also known as North Beach Park). It was relocated around 1935 or the 1940s.

IAS contains additional sitter biographical information, and related articles from Racine Journal Times (Racine, WI) June 8, 1949 and Jan. 25, 1993, and the Racine Review, n.d.

Save Outdoor Sculpture, Wisconsin survey, 1995.

Racine Journal Times (Racine, WI), June 8, 1949.

Racine Journal Times (Racine, WI), June 8, 1949.

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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