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Daniel Chester French

"Richard Morris Hunt Memorial"

Daniel Chester French was approached in 1896 by the Art Society of New York to design and create a monument to Richard Morris Hunt, a seminal figure in American architecture.

Because of Hunt's involvement with painting and architecture, French decided to have the monument contain three sculptures: a bust of Hunt and two allegorical statues, each representing painting and sculpture, and architecture. The monument, which includes two benches and rows of columns, was dedicated on October 31, 1898 and the statues of Painting and Sclupture and Architecture were completed in 1900 and installed in 1901.

The bust of Hunt rests on a pedestal which has the following engraved upon it:

To
RICHARD MORRIS HUNT
October 31, 1828
July 3, 1895
In Recognition
Of His Services To
The Cause of Art
In America
This Memorial
Was erected 1898 by
The Art Society
of New York

The monument may be found in New York City on the east side of Central Park, at the intersection of Fifth Avenue between 70th and 71st Street.

All photos below were taken by Douglas Yeo, April, 2002.

Daniel Chester French's "Hunt Memorial" seen from the northeast in morning light. Click HERE to download a higher resolution image of this photo.

French's bust of Richard Morris Hunt Click HERE to download a higher resolution image of this photo.

Here is the bust of Hunt shown in context on its pedestal.

The allegorical rendering of "Painting and Sculpture" is on the south (left facing) side of the Hunt Memorial. The statue is holding, in her left hand, a palatte and a small model of the footless, handless "Dionysos" taken from the east pediment of the Parthenon, and in her right hand, a sculptor's mallet is found. Click HERE to download a higher resolution image of this photo.

This view shows a close up of the left hand of "Painting and Sculpture."

The allegorical rendering of "Architecture" is on the north (right facing) side of the Hunt Memorial. She holds in her hands a model of one of Hunt's most famous works, the Adminstration Building from the 1893 World's Fair. Click HERE to download a higher resolution image of this photo.

Here is a detailed look at the statue of "Architecture."

Daniel Chester French's signature can be seen at the foot of the statue of "Architecture."

This is a view of the Hunt Memorial from the back, clearly showing its urban setting.

Return to the Daniel Chester French: Sculptures In Situ page.

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