George Gordon Meade Memorial
Encyclopedia
Meade Memorial, is a public artwork by American
artist Charles Grafly
, located at 3rd & Pennsylvania Avenue
N.W. in Washington, D.C.
, United States
. Meade Memorial was originally surveyed as part of the Smithsonian's
Save Outdoor Sculpture!
survey in 1993. The monument is a tribute to United States Army
officer George Meade
.
The statue is a contributing monument to the Civil War Monuments in Washington, DC
, of the National Register of Historic Places
.
shaped statue features a figure of General George Meade on the proper front and a figure of War on the proper back, surrounded by six figures standing side by side. The six figures, all allegorical
representations of Loyalty, Chivalry, Fame, Progress, Military Courage and Energy, were used by Grafly to show what he believed are traits needed to make a "great general.
To Meade's proper right is a male figure of Loyalty, and to his proper left is a female figure of Chivalry, who are shown removing Meade's cloak, which symbolizes the "cloak of battle." Above Meade's head Loyalty holds a wreath and garlands representing the generals deeds. Behind Loyalty stands a female figure of Fame who is supported by a male figure of Energy. Behind the figure of Chivalry is a male figure of Progress and behind him a male figure of Military Courage, who locks arms with War. Winged War is flanked by two memorial tablets. At the top of the monument is a gold finial
with the state seal of Pennsylvania
.
SOS! describes the statue as showing Meade "represented as the embodiment of all six allegorical qualities as he emerges from his cloak of battle and progresses into his future."
The sculpture is signed:
The back of the base features the inscription:
And the lower front of the base has inscribed in bronze, lowercase letters:
meade
and in uppercase letters:
(signed Founder's mark appears)
commissioned the sculpture on October 18, 1913. Authorized by an act of Congress
on January 21, 1915, ground breaking took place eight years later on March 28, 1922 after approval of the sculpture design by the Washington Fine Arts Commission and the state of Pennsylvania. The memorial, which cost $400,000 , was originally installed at The botanical gardens at 3rd and Pennsylvania Ave near the statue of Ulysses S. Grant , only to be moved into National Park Service
storage in 1966 due to construction. In 1983 it was finally installed at its current location.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
artist Charles Grafly
Charles Grafly
Charles Allan Grafly, Jr. was an American sculptor and educator. He taught at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts for 37 years.-Life and career:...
, located at 3rd & Pennsylvania Avenue
Pennsylvania Avenue
Pennsylvania Avenue is a street in Washington, D.C. that joins the White House and the United States Capitol. Called "America's Main Street", it is the location of official parades and processions, as well as protest marches...
N.W. in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Meade Memorial was originally surveyed as part of the Smithsonian's
Smithsonian Institution
The Smithsonian Institution is an educational and research institute and associated museum complex, administered and funded by the government of the United States and by funds from its endowment, contributions, and profits from its retail operations, concessions, licensing activities, and magazines...
Save Outdoor Sculpture!
Save Outdoor Sculpture!
Save Outdoor Sculpture! is a community-based effort to identify, document, and conserve outdoor sculpture in the United States. By fostering awareness and appreciation, SOS! aims to advocate proper care of a nationwide public resource....
survey in 1993. The monument is a tribute to United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
officer George Meade
George Meade
George Gordon Meade was a career United States Army officer and civil engineer involved in coastal construction, including several lighthouses. He fought with distinction in the Second Seminole War and Mexican-American War. During the American Civil War he served as a Union general, rising from...
.
The statue is a contributing monument to the Civil War Monuments in Washington, DC
Civil War Monuments in Washington, DC
Civil War Monuments in Washington, D.C. is a group of 18 statues, that are spread out through much of central and northwest Washington, D.C. The statues depict 11 Union generals, and only one Confederate general, Albert Pike, who is depicted as a Mason rather than a military man. Two Union...
, of the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
.
Description
This cylinderCylinder (geometry)
A cylinder is one of the most basic curvilinear geometric shapes, the surface formed by the points at a fixed distance from a given line segment, the axis of the cylinder. The solid enclosed by this surface and by two planes perpendicular to the axis is also called a cylinder...
shaped statue features a figure of General George Meade on the proper front and a figure of War on the proper back, surrounded by six figures standing side by side. The six figures, all allegorical
Allegory
Allegory is a demonstrative form of representation explaining meaning other than the words that are spoken. Allegory communicates its message by means of symbolic figures, actions or symbolic representation...
representations of Loyalty, Chivalry, Fame, Progress, Military Courage and Energy, were used by Grafly to show what he believed are traits needed to make a "great general.
To Meade's proper right is a male figure of Loyalty, and to his proper left is a female figure of Chivalry, who are shown removing Meade's cloak, which symbolizes the "cloak of battle." Above Meade's head Loyalty holds a wreath and garlands representing the generals deeds. Behind Loyalty stands a female figure of Fame who is supported by a male figure of Energy. Behind the figure of Chivalry is a male figure of Progress and behind him a male figure of Military Courage, who locks arms with War. Winged War is flanked by two memorial tablets. At the top of the monument is a gold finial
Finial
The finial is an architectural device, typically carved in stone and employed decoratively to emphasize the apex of a gable or any of various distinctive ornaments at the top, end, or corner of a building or structure. Smaller finials can be used as a decorative ornament on the ends of curtain rods...
with the state seal of Pennsylvania
Seal of Pennsylvania
The Great Seal of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is the state seal for the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. Unlike most state seals, it has an obverse and a reverse.-Description:...
.
SOS! describes the statue as showing Meade "represented as the embodiment of all six allegorical qualities as he emerges from his cloak of battle and progresses into his future."
The sculpture is signed:
- CHARLES GRAFLY.SC.
- .MCMXX-MCMXXV
- EXECUTED BY PICCIRILLI BROS
The back of the base features the inscription:
- EDWARD P. SIMON
- GRANT M. SIMON
- ARCHITECTS
And the lower front of the base has inscribed in bronze, lowercase letters:
meade
and in uppercase letters:
- THE COMMONWEALTH
- OF PENNSYLVANIA
- TO MAJOR GENERAL GEORGE GORDON MEADE
- WHO COMMANDED
- THE UNION FORCES
- AT GETTYSBURG
(signed Founder's mark appears)
Information
Residents of the state of PennsylvaniaPennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
commissioned the sculpture on October 18, 1913. Authorized by an act of Congress
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
on January 21, 1915, ground breaking took place eight years later on March 28, 1922 after approval of the sculpture design by the Washington Fine Arts Commission and the state of Pennsylvania. The memorial, which cost $400,000 , was originally installed at The botanical gardens at 3rd and Pennsylvania Ave near the statue of Ulysses S. Grant , only to be moved into National Park Service
National Park Service
The National Park Service is the U.S. federal agency that manages all national parks, many national monuments, and other conservation and historical properties with various title designations...
storage in 1966 due to construction. In 1983 it was finally installed at its current location.