The Aviator (Charlottesville, Virginia)

The Aviator is a historic sculpture located on the University of Virginia campus near Charlottesville, Albemarle County, Virginia.

The Aviator
ArtistGutzon Borglum
Year1918
TypeBronze
Dimensions4,400 cm × 3,400 cm (144 ft × 112 ft)
LocationCharlottesville, Virginia
OwnerUniversity of Virginia
LocationMonument Square, bounded by University and Jefferson Park Aves. and the railroad tracks, Charlottesville, Virginia
Coordinates38°2′18″N 78°30′21″W
Arealess than one acre
Built1919 (1919)
ArchitectBorglum, Gutzon
Architectural styleLate 19th And 20th Century Revivals
NRHP reference No.06000758[1]
VLR No.002-5073
Significant dates
Added to NRHPNovember 9, 2006
Designated VLRJune 8, 2006[2]

History

The sculpture is a bronze statue commissioned in honor of University alumnus, James Rogers McConnell’s heroism and courage in World War I, as a member of the Lafayette Escadrille.

The Aviator was designed by Gutzon Borglum and dedicated in 1919. The sculpture measures 12 feet high and 8 feet, 6 inches wide.[3]

It is located in front of Clemons Library on the grounds of the University of Virginia. Due to the library's abundant 24-hour study space available for students, The Aviator is a fixture in everyday life at the University.[4]

It is an athletic male nude with his feet placed shoulder width apart, knees slightly bent and arms outstretched supporting a pair of wings.[5] The blade/knife; dirk or possible dagger/stiletto the figure has in his sheath is a recognized symbol of masculinity.[6][7]

It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2006.[1]

  • The Aviator, April 2013
  • The Aviator, December 2005
  • 7 Inscription
  • Inscription
gollark: Oops, yes, editing.
gollark: Basically, it uses trilateration~~/triangulation~~ (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/True_range_multilateration), so you need three or sometimes four GPS servers.
gollark: Well, I can't think of any which aren't utterly insane.
gollark: I wonder if there's some intensely hacky way to get around `nil` being the same as a missing key.
gollark: That is arguably similar to what you already have but with more wasted space, though...

References
  1. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
  2. "Virginia Landmarks Register". Virginia Department of Historic Resources. Retrieved 2013-05-12.
  3. "The Aviator, (sculpture)". Inventory of American Sculpture. Smithsonian Institution. Retrieved 29 May 2013.
  4. http://www.library.virginia.edu/blog/libraries/clemons/
  5. Susan Smead and Taryn Harrison (April 2006). "National Register of Historic Places Inventory/Nomination: George Rogers Clark Sculpture" (PDF). and Accompanying four photos
  6. https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=94979969
  7. Schotten, C. (2009-07-20). Nietzsche's Revolution: Décadence, Politics, and Sexuality. ISBN 9780230623224.
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