Statue of Alexander Hamilton (Central Park)

An outdoor granite sculpture of Alexander Hamilton by Carl Conrads is installed in Central Park, Manhattan, New York.[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]

Statue of Alexander Hamilton
Statue of Alexander Hamilton
Location in Manhattan
ArtistCarl Conrads
Year1880 (1880)
TypeSculpture
MediumWesterly granite
SubjectAlexander Hamilton
LocationNew York City, New York, United States
Coordinates40°46′51.7″N 73°57′52.4″W

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

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]

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]

Dedication
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:

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]

gollark: It could reasonably be argued that even if I just look at a thing and perfectly understand it enough to predict all its future conditions, I didn't cause it.
gollark: And again, God *set up the entire thing*.
gollark: Foreknowledge plus causing is... causing.
gollark: As repeatedly previously stated, God also caused those conditions, if they are omnipotent and/or created the universe.
gollark: I approximately preempted your joke by several decaseconds, actually.

References
  1. "Alexander Hamilton, (sculpture)". Inventory of American Sculpture, Smithsonian Institution Research Information System. Smithsonian American Art Museum.
  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. "The Hamilton Statue. Its Unveiling To-day – The Bust After Which It Was Modeled". The New York Times. November 22, 1880.
  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. G. D. Curtis. 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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