Benjamin Harrison (bust)
Encyclopedia
Benjamin Harrison is a bust by American
artist Richard Peglow, located in the north atrium on the second floor of the Indiana Statehouse, which is in Indianapolis
, Indiana
, USA. The bust is cast in bronze and depicts President Benjamin Harrison
. The bust is placed in front of a grey and black marble shield with six stars tracing around the edge of the shape. The bust and shield are approximately 28 inches wide by 25 inches high and has a depth of 14.5 inches. The artwork was cast and placed in the statehouse in 2008 in accordance with Indiana code Section 2. IC 4-20.5-6-12.
and Indiana native, Benjamin Harrison. He is wearing a his favorite overcoat and has a full beard. The only word present on the bust, Harrison, is on a bronze banner across the top of the granite shield. The shield is black Indian granite, the black polished edges showcasing the sandblasted gray interior. The six stars along the right and left flanks represent the six states (North Dakota
, South Dakota
, Montana
, Washington, Idaho
, Wyoming
) that entered the Union while Harrison was in office, more states than any other president. The shield design was dually-inspired; both from Harrison's 1888 campaign slogan "Protection and Reciprocity" and also recalls the shape of the Indiana State Tree, the tulip or "poplar" . The sculpture was made in the artist's studio in Kirklin and cast in bronze at the SinCerus Bronze Art Center in Indianapolis.
in 2007 in House Bill 1818, which also commissions artwork based on the contributions of African Americans to be placed in the statehouse. The bill, "requires the department to commission a bust of President Benjamin Harrison for display in the state capitol. Requires the department to consult with the historical bureau and the arts commission on the design of the bust. Requires the approval of the legislative council before the bust is placed in the state capitol." The sponsors of the bill were Representatives V. Smith, M. Murphy, C. Brown; and Senators J. Merritt, E. Rogers, S. Smith, B. Breaux, and G. Howard.
The artist, Richard Peglow, is an Indiana native, having been born and raised in La Porte. He has studied at the Art Institute of Ft. Lauderdale, Herron School of Art, University of Notre Dame
, , and Northern Illinois University
.
The bust was placed in the Indiana statehouse on November 18, 2008 and the great-great-grandson of Benjamin Harrison, Kimball Morsman, was in attendance. Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels gave a speech in which he expressed surprise that a bust of Benjamin Harrison has not been placed in the statehouse before. A more critical voice has raised the question as to why the Indiana General Assembly had to be involved in such a project at all. Matthew Tully of the Indianapolis Star mentioned the bust while examining other, "laws that will in now way reshape the way we all go about our daily lives." Tully has no problem with Benjamin Harrison or with putting a bust of the former President in the statehouse. Rather, he asks "Do we really need a law for this?"
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
artist Richard Peglow, located in the north atrium on the second floor of the Indiana Statehouse, which is in Indianapolis
Indianapolis
Indianapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Indiana, and the county seat of Marion County, Indiana. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population is 839,489. It is by far Indiana's largest city and, as of the 2010 U.S...
, Indiana
Indiana
Indiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...
, USA. The bust is cast in bronze and depicts President Benjamin Harrison
Benjamin Harrison
Benjamin Harrison was the 23rd President of the United States . Harrison, a grandson of President William Henry Harrison, was born in North Bend, Ohio, and moved to Indianapolis, Indiana at age 21, eventually becoming a prominent politician there...
. The bust is placed in front of a grey and black marble shield with six stars tracing around the edge of the shape. The bust and shield are approximately 28 inches wide by 25 inches high and has a depth of 14.5 inches. The artwork was cast and placed in the statehouse in 2008 in accordance with Indiana code Section 2. IC 4-20.5-6-12.
Description
The artwork consists of three pieces: a bronze bust, a black granite shield and a limestone base. The bust is 21 inches tall by 17 inches wide (shoulder to shoulder) and has a depth of 12 inches. The entire sculpture has a height of 28 inches with a width of 25 inches and a depth of 14.5 inches. The bust depicts the 23rd President of the United StatesPresident of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
and Indiana native, Benjamin Harrison. He is wearing a his favorite overcoat and has a full beard. The only word present on the bust, Harrison, is on a bronze banner across the top of the granite shield. The shield is black Indian granite, the black polished edges showcasing the sandblasted gray interior. The six stars along the right and left flanks represent the six states (North Dakota
North Dakota
North Dakota is a state located in the Midwestern region of the United States of America, along the Canadian border. The state is bordered by Canada to the north, Minnesota to the east, South Dakota to the south and Montana to the west. North Dakota is the 19th-largest state by area in the U.S....
, South Dakota
South Dakota
South Dakota is a state located in the Midwestern region of the United States. It is named after the Lakota and Dakota Sioux American Indian tribes. Once a part of Dakota Territory, South Dakota became a state on November 2, 1889. The state has an area of and an estimated population of just over...
, Montana
Montana
Montana is a state in the Western United States. The western third of Montana contains numerous mountain ranges. Smaller, "island ranges" are found in the central third of the state, for a total of 77 named ranges of the Rocky Mountains. This geographical fact is reflected in the state's name,...
, Washington, Idaho
Idaho
Idaho is a state in the Rocky Mountain area of the United States. The state's largest city and capital is Boise. Residents are called "Idahoans". Idaho was admitted to the Union on July 3, 1890, as the 43rd state....
, Wyoming
Wyoming
Wyoming is a state in the mountain region of the Western United States. The western two thirds of the state is covered mostly with the mountain ranges and rangelands in the foothills of the Eastern Rocky Mountains, while the eastern third of the state is high elevation prairie known as the High...
) that entered the Union while Harrison was in office, more states than any other president. The shield design was dually-inspired; both from Harrison's 1888 campaign slogan "Protection and Reciprocity" and also recalls the shape of the Indiana State Tree, the tulip or "poplar" . The sculpture was made in the artist's studio in Kirklin and cast in bronze at the SinCerus Bronze Art Center in Indianapolis.
Historical information
Benjamin Harrison was the 23rd President of America and was born in Indiana; for this reason he is commemorated in the Indiana Statehouse. The bust was commissioned by the Indiana General AssemblyIndiana General Assembly
The Indiana General Assembly is the state legislature, or legislative branch, of the state of Indiana. It is a bicameral legislature that consists of a lower house, the Indiana House of Representatives, and an upper house, the Indiana Senate...
in 2007 in House Bill 1818, which also commissions artwork based on the contributions of African Americans to be placed in the statehouse. The bill, "requires the department to commission a bust of President Benjamin Harrison for display in the state capitol. Requires the department to consult with the historical bureau and the arts commission on the design of the bust. Requires the approval of the legislative council before the bust is placed in the state capitol." The sponsors of the bill were Representatives V. Smith, M. Murphy, C. Brown; and Senators J. Merritt, E. Rogers, S. Smith, B. Breaux, and G. Howard.
The artist, Richard Peglow, is an Indiana native, having been born and raised in La Porte. He has studied at the Art Institute of Ft. Lauderdale, Herron School of Art, University of Notre Dame
University of Notre Dame
The University of Notre Dame du Lac is a Catholic research university located in Notre Dame, an unincorporated community north of the city of South Bend, in St. Joseph County, Indiana, United States...
, , and Northern Illinois University
Northern Illinois University
Northern Illinois University is a state university and research institution located in DeKalb, Illinois, with satellite centers in Hoffman Estates, Naperville, Rockford, and Oregon. It was originally founded as Northern Illinois State Normal School on May 22, 1895 by Illinois Governor John P...
.
The bust was placed in the Indiana statehouse on November 18, 2008 and the great-great-grandson of Benjamin Harrison, Kimball Morsman, was in attendance. Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels gave a speech in which he expressed surprise that a bust of Benjamin Harrison has not been placed in the statehouse before. A more critical voice has raised the question as to why the Indiana General Assembly had to be involved in such a project at all. Matthew Tully of the Indianapolis Star mentioned the bust while examining other, "laws that will in now way reshape the way we all go about our daily lives." Tully has no problem with Benjamin Harrison or with putting a bust of the former President in the statehouse. Rather, he asks "Do we really need a law for this?"
See also
- Abraham Lincoln (Jones)
- Colonel Richard Owen (Kinney Scholz)
- Frank O'Bannon (Ryden)
- Henry F. Schricker (Rubins)
- Matthew E. Welsh (Edwards)
- Otis Bowen (Lanagan)
- Robert D. Orr (Ingle)
- Sherman Minton (Gage)
- Stephen Neal (Leonard)