Alexander Hamilton (Conrads)

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Alexander Hamilton
Alexander Hamilton by Conrads, Central Park, NYC - 01.jpg
Artist Carl Conrads
Year1880 (1880)
TypeSculpture
MediumWesterly granite
Subject Alexander Hamilton
LocationNew York City, New York, United States
Coordinates Coordinates: 40°46′51.7″N73°57′52.4″W / 40.781028°N 73.964556°W / 40.781028; -73.964556

Alexander Hamilton is an outdoor granite sculpture by Carl Conrads, located in Central Park, Manhattan. [1] Hamilton's son, John C. Hamilton, commissioned Conrads to sculpt this statue, which was dedicated on November 22, 1880, and donated to the city. [2] [3] Conrads used the bust of Hamilton created by the sculptor Giuseppe Ceracchi as a model for Hamilton's head. [4]

Carl Conrads American sculptor

Carl H. Conrads was an American sculptor best known for his work on Civil War monuments and his two works in the National Statuary Hall Collection at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. He was also known as Charles Conrads.

Central Park Large public park in Manhattan, New York, United States

Central Park is an urban park in Manhattan, New York City. It is located between the Upper West Side and Upper East Side, roughly bounded by Fifth Avenue on the east, Central Park West on the west, Central Park South on the south, and Central Park North on the north. Central Park is the most visited urban park in the United States, with 40 million visitors in 2013, and one of the most filmed locations in the world. In terms of area, Central Park is the fifth largest park in New York City, covering 843 acres (341 ha).

Manhattan Borough in New York City and county in New York, United States

Manhattan, often referred to locally as the City, is the most densely populated of the five boroughs of New York City and its economic and administrative center, cultural identifier, and historical birthplace. The borough is coextensive with New York County, one of the original counties of the U.S. state of New York. The borough consists mostly of Manhattan Island, bounded by the Hudson, East, and Harlem rivers; several small adjacent islands; and Marble Hill, a small neighborhood now on the U.S. mainland, physically connected to the Bronx and separated from the rest of Manhattan by the Harlem River. Manhattan Island is divided into three informally bounded components, each aligned with the borough's long axis: Lower, Midtown, and Upper Manhattan.

Contents

American founding father Alexander Hamilton lived nearby in Manhattan, at Hamilton Grange, when he died in 1804. [2]

Founding Fathers of the United States Group of Americans who led the revolution against Great Britain

The Founding Fathers of the United States, or simply the Founding Fathers, were a group of philosophers, politicians, and writers who led the American Revolution against the Kingdom of Great Britain. Most were descendants of colonists settled in the Thirteen Colonies in North America.

Alexander Hamilton first Secretary of the Treasury and Founding Father of the United States

Alexander Hamilton was an American statesman and one of the Founding Fathers of the United States. He was an influential interpreter and promoter of the U.S. Constitution, as well as the founder of the nation's financial system, the Federalist Party, the United States Coast Guard, and the New York Post newspaper. As the first Secretary of the Treasury, Hamilton was the main author of the economic policies of George Washington's administration. He took the lead in the Federal government's funding of the states' debts, as well as establishing a national bank, a system of tariffs, and friendly trade relations with Britain. His vision included a strong central government led by a vigorous executive branch, a strong commercial economy, a national bank and support for manufacturing, and a strong military. Thomas Jefferson was his leading opponent, arguing for agrarianism and smaller government.

Description

Hamilton is dressed in Colonial style with a wig, ruffled collar, knickers, and buckle shoes. His right hand is on his chest, while his left hand is holding a rolled document, resting on a stone column. Thirteen stars encircle the top of the pedestal. A sword, scabbard and military hat are near the base of the pedestal. [1] [5]

Scabbard sheath for large blades

A scabbard is a sheath for holding a sword, knife, or other large blade. Scabbards have been made of many materials over the millennia, including leather, wood, and metals such as brass or steel.

Tricorne hat with the brim cocked or turned up on three sides

The tricorne or tricorn is a style of hat that was popular during the 18th century, falling out of style by 1800, though actually not called a "tricorne" until the mid-19th century. During the 18th century, hats of this general style were referred to as "cocked hats". At the peak of its popularity, the tricorne varied greatly in style and size, and was worn not only by the aristocracy, but also as common civilian dress, and as part of military and naval uniforms. Typically made from animal fiber, the more expensive being of beaver-hair felt and the less expensive of wool felt, the hat's most distinguishing characteristic was that three sides of the brim were turned up (cocked) and either pinned, laced, or buttoned in place to form a triangle around the crown. The style served two purposes: first, it allowed stylish gentlemen to show off the most current fashions of their wigs, and thus their social status; and secondly, the cocked hat, with its folded brim, was much smaller than other hats and therefore could be more easily tucked under an arm when going inside a building, where social etiquette dictated that a gentleman should remove his hat. Tricornes with laced sides could have the laces loosened and the sides dropped down to provide better protection from the weather, sun, and rain.

Conrads, working for New England Granite Works owned by James G. Batterson, used a block of Westerly granite since it was both beautiful and durable, able to withstand the highest pressures. [6] [7]

The New England Granite Works was a firm incorporated in Hartford, Connecticut on June 16, 1871 by James G. Batterson. It was notable for creating a large number of works in the New England area until it was dissolved on June 26, 1926.

James G. Batterson American designer and builder

James Goodwin Batterson was an American designer and builder, the owner of New England Granite Works from 1845 and a founder in 1863 of Travelers Insurance Company, both in Hartford, Connecticut. He introduced casualty insurance in the United States, for which he was posthumously inducted into the Insurance Hall of Fame (1965).

Westerly, Rhode Island Town in Rhode Island, United States

Westerly is a town on the southwestern shoreline of Washington County, Rhode Island, first settled by English colonists in 1661 and incorporated as a municipality in 1669. It is a beachfront community on the south shore of the state with a population of 22,787 as of the 2010 census.

Dedication

Statue view showing left hand, document, and column Alexander Hamilton by Conrads, Central Park, NYC - 03.jpg
Statue view showing left hand, document, and column

The dedication, held on November 22, 1880, a cold and windy day, was attended by nearly 500 people. Hamilton's son, John C. Hamilton, made a brief speech to the crowd and guests, including members of the Society of the Cincinnati. [5] Hamilton described the statue:

Society of the Cincinnati American non-profit charitable organization

The Society of the Cincinnati is a hereditary society with branches in the United States and France, founded in 1783, to preserve the ideals and fellowship of officers of the Continental Army who served in the Revolutionary War. Now in its third century, the Society promotes the public interest in the revolution through its library and museum collections, publications, and other activities. It is the oldest hereditary society in the United States. The Society does not allow women to join, though there is a patriarchal consolation society called Daughters of the Cincinnati which permits all female descendants of Continental officers.

Upon a base of granite rock, with a tracing of forest trees marking its central position, and facing the rising sun, is beheld the statue of my father. With reverence for his character, and valuing the sympathies of this distinguished assemblage, I present it to this great Metropolis through your Honor, its esteemed Mayor. [5]

The Mayor, Edward Cooper, then made a brief address praising Alexander and thanking John C. for his donation.

Fitting is it, my fellow-countrymen, that the statue of our illustrious townsman should stand in the chief resort of the City he adopted for his home. [5]

Since the weather was so bad, the outdoor ceremony was moved inside the Metropolitan Museum of Art where later speakers included Alexander Hamilton Bullock and Chauncey M. Depew. [5] Depew's speech covered Hamilton as a soldier, financier and statesman. [8]

Inscription

On the base of the pedestal:

PRESENTED BY
JOHN C. HAMILTON,
1880.

On the left side: [1]

C. Conrads
N.E. Granite Works
Hartford, CT

Legacy

While Ceracchi, born on July 4, 1751, created busts for several founding fathers, his life did not end well. After returning to Europe, he first celebrated Napoleon with a bust, but then turned against him. After an unsuccessful plot, Napoleon had him guillotined at the Place de Grève on January 30, 1801. [4] [9]

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References

  1. 1 2 3 "Alexander Hamilton, (sculpture)". Inventory of American Sculpture, Smithsonian Institution Research Information System. Smithsonian American Art Museum.
  2. 1 2 "Central Park – Alexander Hamilton". New York City Department of Parks & Recreation.
  3. ↑ "The Death List of a Day. John Church Hamilton". The New York Times. July 26, 1882.
  4. 1 2 "The Hamilton Statue. Its Unveiling To-day – The Bust After Which It Was Modeled". The New York Times. November 22, 1880.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 "The Statue of Hamilton; Crowds Witness its Unveiling in Central Park". The New York Times. November 23, 1880.
  6. ↑ "Connecticut's Monuments: James G. Batterson". Connecticut Historical Society.
  7. ↑ Curtis, George D. (1877). Souvenir of the Centennial Exhibition: Connecticut's Representation at Philadelphia, 1876. p. 150.
  8. ↑ "Address of Mr. Depew". The New York Times. November 23, 1880.
  9. ↑ Roscoe, Ingrid; Hardy, Emma; Sullivan, M.G. "Giuseppe Ceracchi". Online Database of the Biographical Dictionary of Sculptors in Britain 1660-1851.
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