Nuns of the Battlefield, (sculpture).

Nuns of the Battlefield, (sculpture).

Connor, Jerome, 1876-1943, sculptor.

Brown, Ward, 1877-1946, architect.

Bureau Brothers, founder.

Nuns of the Battlefield, (sculpture).

1918-1924. Dedicated September 20, 1924.

Digital Reference:

Relief and figures: bronze; Base: Stoney Creek granite.

Sculpture: approx. H. 6 ft. W. 9 ft.

(Relief, lower right side, near base:) JEROME CONNOR 1924 (Relief, lower left side, near base:) BUREAU BROS./BRONZE FOUNDERS PHILA/ENN (The large "P" in PHILA extends down in front of the ENN) (On granite above relief:) THEY COMFORTED THE DYING, NURSED THE WOUNDED, CARRIED HOPE TO/THE IMPRISONED, GAVE IN HIS NAME A DRINK OF WATER TO THE THIRSTY. (On granite below relief:) TO THE MEMORY AND IN HONOR OF/THE VARIOUS ORDERS OF SISTERS/WHO GAVE THEIR SERVICES AS NURSES ON BATTLEFIELDS/AND IN HOSPITALS DURING THE CIVIL WAR. (On granite, rear, near base:) ERECTED BY THE LADIES AUXILIARY TO THE ANCIENT ORDER OF HIBERNIANS OF AMERICA. A.D. 1924/BY AUTHORITY OF THE CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES. signed Founder's mark appears.

Large bronze relief panel depicting twelve nuns dressed in various ecclesiastical robes and hats is installed on the front of a rectangular granite slab that rests on a stepped granite base. The granite slab is adorned at the top with a wreath and a cross. At each end of the granite slab is a seated female figure made of bronze. On the north side, a winged figure dressed in long robes, a helmet, and armor represents the angel of Patriotism. She sits holding a shield in front of her with her proper left hand, and she holds a scroll in her lap with her proper right hand. She is unarmed to symbolize peaceful patriotism. On the south side, a winged figure wearing a long dress with laces across the bodice and a scarf around her head represents the angel of Peace. She sits with her hands folded in her lap.

Figure group -- Female

Dress -- Ecclesiastical

Occupation -- Religion -- Nun

History -- United States -- Civil War

Religion -- Angel

Allegory -- Civic -- Patriotism

Allegory -- Civic -- Peace

Outdoor Sculpture -- District of Columbia -- Washington

Administered by United States Department of the Interior, National Park Service, Washington, District of Columbia

Located Rhode Island Avenue, M Street, & Connecticut Avenue, N.W., Washington, District of Columbia

Sculpture was the erected by the ladies auxiliary of the Catholic Church organization known as the Ancient Order of the Hibernians in memory of nuns who cared for the wounded during the Civil War. It was authorized by Congress on March 29, 1918 and construction began on July 28, 1924. The delay before construction was caused by the choice of a site for the sculpture. The sculptor preferred either Arlington National Cemetery or the back of the Pan American Union Building. Both of these choices where not supported by the War Department or the District of Columbia Fine Arts Commission. When the final site was determined by the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Fine Arts Commission suggested several changes to the monument including altering its size, moving the inscriptions to the front, rearranging the front steps, and making the angels more active. National Park Service files note that the sculptor ended up suing the Ancient Order of the Hibernians for nonpayment.

IAS files contain an excerpt from Jannelle Warren-Findley's Aug. 1, 1985 report for the National Park Service entitled, "A Guide to Selected Statues, Monuments and Memorials," National Capital Parks - Central, National Park Service, Washington, D.C. (RFQ 3-4-1919) which includes a brief maintenance history, a list of bibliographic sources, and notes to additional information found in National Park Service files. IAS files also contain a clipping from the Washington Post, Aug. 24, 1924, which pictures the two angels, and the sculptor working on the angel of Patriotism.

Index of American Sculpture, University of Delaware, 1985

Goode, James M., "The Outdoor Sculpture of Washington, D.C., A Comprehensive Historical Guide," Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution Press, 1974, pg. 102.

Save Outdoor Sculpture, District of Columbia survey, 1993.

Michael Richman, SAAM curatorial assistant, 1967-1969.

Goode, James M., "Washington Sculpture: A Cultural History of Outdoor Sculpture in the Nation's Capitol," Baltimore, MD: Johns Hopkins University Press, 2008, no. 2.3.

Goode, James M., "The Outdoor Sculpture of Washington, D.C., A Comprehensive Historical Guide," Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution Press, 1974, B-2.

Goode, James M., "Washington Sculpture: A Cultural History of Outdoor Sculpture in the Nation's Capitol," Baltimore, MD: Johns Hopkins University Press, 2008, no. 2.3.

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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