Don Felipe de Neve, (sculpture).

Don Felipe de Neve, (sculpture).

Lion, Henry, 1900-1966, sculptor.

California Art Bronze Foundry, founder.

Don Felipe de Neve, (sculpture).

Felipe de Neve, (sculpture).

Governor Felipe de Neve, (sculpture).

Commissioned 1929. Modeled 1931. Dedicated March 12, 1932.

Digital Reference:

Sculpture: bronze; Base: stone.

Sculpture: approx. 7 ft. 4 in. x 3 ft. x 1 ft. 4 in.; Base: approx. 1 ft. 6 in. x 4 ft. 5 in. x 4 ft.

HENRY/LION/1931 (Bilingual plaque on front of base:) FELIPE DE NEVE 1728-84/SPANISH GOVERNOR OF THE CALIFORNIAS 1775-82/IN 1781, ON THE ORDERS OF KING CARLOS III OF SPAIN, FELIPE DE/NEVE SELECTED A SITE NEAR THE RIVER PORCIUNCULA AND LAID/OUT THE TOWN OF EL PUEBLO DE LA REINA DE LOS ANGELES,/ONE OF THE TWO SPANISH PUEBLOS HE FOUNDED/IN ALTA CALIFORNIA

(On plaque on side of base:) DON FELIPE DE NEVE/FOUNDER OF EL PUEBLO DE MUESTRA/SENORA LA REINA DE LOS ANGELES/SEPTEMBER 4, 1781/ERECTED IN COMMEMORATION OF THE/150TH ANNIVERSARY BY/CALIFORNIA PARLOR NO. 247/NATIVE DAUGHTERS/OF THE GOLDEN WEST/HENRY LION-SCULPTOR signed

Full-length "idealized" portrait of Don Felipe de Neve, dressed in historical costume with long cape, gloves and boots (a composite of the type of uniform worn by 18th Century Spanish officers). He is depicted standing, with hat cradled near his waist in his proper left hand; his proper right hand at his side. He turns his head slightly to the proper left. The sculpture is mounted on a natural rock base.

Portrait male -- Neve, Don Felipe de -- Full length

History -- United States -- California

Outdoor Sculpture -- California -- Los Angeles

Administered by City of Los Angeles, Cultural Affairs Department, Public Art Division, 433 South Spring Street, 10th floor, Los Angeles, California 90013

Located El Pueblo de Los Angeles Historic Monument, West side of plaza, 845 North Alameda Street, Los Angeles, California

The sculpture, honoring the founder of Los Angeles, cost $10,000. It was commissioned in 1929 by the Native Daughters of the Golden West. Its dedication was scheduled to coincide with the City's 150th anniversary on Sept. 4, 1931; however, because of work delays, it was not dedicated until March 1932. The sculpture was originally located in an 1873 fountain in the center of the Plaza, facing the Plaza Church. The plaza site is where de Neve reportedly stuck his sword into the ground to locate the city. The sculpture was originally controversial, because it was felt the boulder base was too plain, and the statue should have a "proper" pedestal base.

IAS files contain articles from Los Angeles Times, May 29, 1931; March 11, 1932; and March 13, 1932; and transcript of Municipal Arts Commission Minutes, Feb. 18, 1931; Feb. 25, 1931, March 11, 1931; April 30, 1931, July 29, 1931, Aug. 5, 1931, and Aug. 19, 1931. IAS files also contain copy of Municipal Art Department Inventory form; and excerpts from Merrill A. Reed's "Historical Statues and Monuments in California;" Nancy Dustin Wall Moure's "Painting and Sculpture in Los Angeles, 1900-1945," Los Angeles County Museum of Art, 1980; and Michael Several's "The Public Art of Los Angeles, Part I," 1991.

Save Outdoor Sculpture, California survey, 1994.

Glenn Wharton and Associates, Inc., 1998.

Index of American Sculpture, University of Delaware, 1985.

Los Angeles Municipal Art Gallery, 1976.

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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