Socrates (sculpture)

Last updated
Socrates
ArtistW. V. Casey
Yearc. 1950 (1950)
Type Bronze
Dimensions51 cm× 33 cm× 15 cm(20 in× 13 in× 6 in)
Location Butler University, Indianapolis, Indiana, United States
Coordinates 39°50′41″N86°10′14″W / 39.844670°N 86.170540°W / 39.844670; -86.170540
OwnerButler University

Socrates is an outdoor sculpture by artist W. V. Casey created c. 1950. The work is on the grounds of Butler University in Indianapolis, Indiana, United States. The sculpture depicts the Greek Athenian philosopher Socrates. In 1993 the sculpture was examined by the Save Outdoor Sculpture! program produced by the Smithsonian Institution. [1]

Contents

Description

A bronze sculpture placed on a limestone tablet (104 x 48 x 10 in.), Socrates is a portrait mask of the Greek Athenian philosopher Socrates. He is depicted as being bald and with a beard. To the lower left of the beard is engraved: W.V. CASEY and below the bronze bust on the tablet is inscribed:

SOCRATES
UNTIL PHILOSOPHERS ARE KINGS, OR THE
KINGS AND PRINCES OF THIS WORLD HAVE
THE SPIRIT AND POWER OF PHILOSOPHY...
THEN ONLY WILL THIS OUR STATE HAVE A
POSSIBILITY OF LIFE AND BEHOLD THE
LIGHT OF DAY. [1]

The piece is installed as part of "Philosopher's Bench" at Butler University's Holcomb Gardens. The tablet is placed in the center of a small landscaped area with and has flanked by two benches which feature quotes by Socrates, Thomas Jefferson, Jesus Christ, Jean-Jacques Rousseau and Mohandas Gandhi. [2]

Creation

The work was created by W. V. Casey and dedicated circa 1950. [1]

Condition

In 1993 the piece was surveyed as part of the Smithsonian Institution's Save Outdoor Sculpture! survey. At the time of survey, the piece was described as needing treatment. [1]

Related Research Articles

Socrates was an Athenian philosopher.

Holcomb Mausoleum Door is a public artwork by American fabricator Amick & Wearley Monuments, located in Crown Hill Cemetery, which is near downtown Indianapolis, Indiana, United States. Holcomb Mausoleum Door is bronze and glass and is approximately 78 x 39 x 4 inches. The door features a full-length female figure, seen from behind. The figure is portrayed wearing a draping dress, with the proper left shoulder bare. The background of the door consists of stalks, also in bronze, with the figure's proper right hand raised toward the stalks, and her proper left hand placed on the door handle. The figure is looking downward, over her right shoulder.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kauffmann Memorial</span> Artwork by William Ordway Partridge

Kauffmann Memorial is a public artwork by American artist William Ordway Partridge, located at Rock Creek Cemetery in Washington, D.C., United States. Kauffmann Memorial was originally surveyed as part of the Smithsonian's Save Outdoor Sculpture! survey in 1993. The memorial is a tribute and grave for Samuel H. Kauffmann, the former owner of the Washington Star and president of the Corcoran Gallery.

The Servant Christ is a public artwork by American artist Jimilu Mason, located at Christ House, 1717 Columbia Road, NW in Washington, D.C., United States. The Servant Christ was originally surveyed as part of the Smithsonian's Save Outdoor Sculpture! survey in 1994.

<i>Persephone</i> (sculpture) Sculpture by Armand Toussaint

Persephone is an outdoor sculpture by artist Armand Toussaint created c. 1840. The work sits within the center of a pool in Holcomb Gardens on the grounds of Butler University in Indianapolis, Indiana, United States. The sculpture depicts the Greek goddess Persephone. In 1993 the sculpture was examined by the Save Outdoor Sculpture! program produced by the Smithsonian Institution.

<i>Running Horses</i> Sculpture in Portland, Oregon, U.S.

Running Horses is an outdoor 1986 bronze sculpture by Tom Hardy, located on the Transit Mall in downtown Portland, Oregon. It is part of the City of Portland and Multnomah County Public Art Collection courtesy of the Regional Arts & Culture Council.

Perpetuity is an outdoor 1970 sculpture by Alexander von Svoboda, located in Portland, Oregon.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Statue of Jason Lee</span> Sculpture by Alexander Phimister Proctor

Jason Lee, also known as Reverend Jason Lee, is an outdoor bronze sculpture of Jason Lee, located in Salem, Oregon, United States. It was designed by Alexander Phimister Proctor, who died in 1950 when only the work's model was finished. His son Gifford MacGregor Proctor completed the sculpture between 1950 and 1953. The one installed on the grounds of the Oregon State Capitol is a duplicate of a bronze statue unveiled in the United States Capitol in 1952.

<i>From Within Shalom</i> Sculpture in Portland, Oregon

From Within Shalom, or From Within, Shalom, is an outdoor 1984 granite sculpture by Steve Gillman, installed outside St. James Lutheran Church in Portland, Oregon, in the United States.

The Quest is an outdoor 1983 sculpture of Alice Biddle by Kirk St. Maur, installed on the Oregon State University campus in Corvallis, Oregon, in the United States.

<i>Dancer with Flat Hat</i> Sculpture in Seattle, Washington, U.S.

Dancer with Flat Hat is a sculpture by Phillip Levine.

<i>Town and Gown</i> (Sponenburgh) 1991 sculpture by Mark Sponenburgh by Salem, Oregon, U.S.

Town and Gown is an outdoor 1991 bronze sculpture by Mark Sponenburgh, installed on the north side of the Willamette University campus in Salem, Oregon, United States.

<i>Shaking Man</i> 1993 bronze sculpture by Terry Allen in San Francisco, California, U.S.

Shaking Man is a 1993 bronze sculpture by Terry Allen, installed at Yerba Buena Gardens, in San Francisco's South of Market neighborhood, in the U.S. state of California.

<i>Declaration of Independence Tablet</i> Sculpture in Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.

Declaration of Independence Tablet is a 1925 sculpture by John Francis Paramino, installed at Boston Common, in Boston, Massachusetts, United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Statue of David I. Walsh</span> Statue in Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.

A statue of David I. Walsh by Joseph Coletti is installed along Boston's Charles River Esplanade, in the U.S. state of Massachusetts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Statue of Red Auerbach</span> Statue in Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.

A statue of long-time Boston Celtics coach Red Auerbach by Lloyd Lillie is installed outside Quincy Market at Faneuil Hall, in Boston, Massachusetts, United States.

The Newspaper Reader is an outdoor 1978 sculpture by John Seward Johnson II, installed along Pacific Avenue in Forest Grove, Oregon, United States. The bronze sculpture depicts a man sitting on a bench and reading a newspaper. It measures approximately 4.5 x 2.5 x 2.5 ft, and rests on a concrete base which measures approximately 2.5 x 5.5 x 1.5 ft. The artwork was surveyed by the Smithsonian Institution's "Save Outdoor Sculpture!" program in 1994.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Socrates, (sculpture)". Save Outdoor Sculpture. Smithsonian Institution. 1993. Retrieved 9 November 2011.
  2. Caitlin O'Rourke (2011). "Stop and smell the flowers". Arts & entertainment. Butler University. Archived from the original on 2 April 2012. Retrieved 9 November 2011.