Monument to Henry Horner, (sculpture).

Monument to Henry Horner, (sculpture).

Brcin, John David, 1899-1983, sculptor.

Capitol Products, fabricator.

Monument to Henry Horner, (sculpture).

1948. Dedicated October 27, 1948. Relocated 1956.

Digital Reference:

Sculpture: red granite.

Sculpture: approx. H. 21 ft. W. 7 ft.; Base: approx. W. 9 ft. D. 6 ft.

John David Brcin, Sc. / Capital Prodt's Inc. N.Y.C. (Below relief of Horner as judge:) JUDGE OF THE PROBATE COURT/COOK COUNTY 1914-1932/ELECTED GOVERNOR OF HIS STATE/IN AN HOUR WHEN DOUBT AND FEAR GRIPPED/THE NATION HE REVIVED PUBLIC CREDIT AND/RESTORED FAITH IN THE AMERICAN WAY OF LIFE/LIKE ABRAHAM LINCOLN/TO WHOM HE DEVOTED A LIFETIME OF STUDY/HE GAVE HIMSELF AS FREELY TO THE OBSCURE/AND HELPLESS AS TO THE STRONG AND THE WISE/CONSECRATED TO THE PRINCIPLE OF UNITY/BETWEEN FARM AND CITY CAPITAL AND LABOR/HE WIDENED THE HORIZONS OF GOVERNMENT/AND OF LAW WITH A DEVOTION TO HIS STATE/THAT KNEW NO LIMITS HE POURED OUT HIS LIFE/IN LINE WITH HIS VISION OF THE/WELFARE OF HIS STATE (Below relief of Horner as governor:) HENRY HORNER/1878-1940/GOVERNOR OF ILLINOIS/1933-1940 (Left side of base:) SELFISH/CONSIDERATION MUST/BE FORGOTTEN/PARTISAN DIFFERENCES/MUST BE CAST ASIDE/ALL OF US/MUST PUT THE/COMMON GOOD BEFORE/ALL ELSE/HENRY HORNER (Right side of base:) ERECTED 1948 BY THE /STATE OF ILLINOIS/DWIGHT H. GREEN/GOVERNOR/WALTER A. ROSENFIELD/DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS AND BUILDINGS/C. HERRICK HAMMOND/STATE SUPERVISING ARCHITECT/JOHN DAVID BRCIN/SCULPTOR signed Founder's mark appears.

Granite stele carved on both sides in relief resembling Art Deco style. One side depicts Horner as governor, standing outlined against a profile of the state house in Springfield. The other shows him as a judge, carved against a blindfolded figure of Justice holding her scales. In both scenes the people of Illinois are represented in the foreground. There is a drinking fountain on one side.

Portrait male -- Horner, Henry

Occupation -- Political -- Governor

Occupation -- Law -- Judge

Architecture exterior -- Civic -- Illinois State House

Allegory -- Quality -- Justice

Outdoor Sculpture -- Illinois -- Chicago

Administered by Chicago Park District, Preservation Planning Division, 425 East McFetridge Drive, Chicago, Illinois 60605

Located Horner Park, Southeast corner of Montrose and California Streets, Chicago, Illinois

Formerly located Grant Park, Chicago, Illinois 1948-1956.

The photograph in the Bach and Gray publication is of the side depicting Horner as judge; the photograph in Riedy publication is of the side depicting Horner as governor. IAS files contain transcriptions of additional inscriptions located on base plaques. The Chicago Park District Monument and Sculpture Photographic Archives contain black and white photographs of the sculpture. The Chicago Park District Monument and Sculpture Preservation Files contain copies of the dedication ceremony booklet, speeches, and photographs, and conservation treatment reports with slide documentation.

Index of American Sculpture, University of Delaware, 1985

Bach, Ira J., and Mary Lackritz Gray, "A Guide to Chicago's Public Sculpture," Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1983, pg. 182-183.

Riedy, James L., "Chicago Sculpture," Chicago: University of Illinois Press, 1981, pg. 231.

Save Outdoor Sculpture, Illinois, Chicago survey, 1992.

Bach Ira J., and Mary Lackritz Gray, "A Guide to Chicago's Public Sculpture," Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1983, pg. 183.

Riedy, James L., "Chicago Sculpture," Chicago: University of Illinois Press, 1981, pg. 231.

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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