Olive Risley Seward, artwork by John Cavanaugh
Olive Risley Seward is a bronze statue located in Seward Square at the intersection of Pennsylvania Avenue and North Carolina Avenue Southeast in Washington, D.C. The sculpture depicts a woman in a thoughtful stance, rendered with careful attention to detail in its three-dimensional form.
The statue was created in 1971 by sculptor John Cavanaugh to honor the adopted daughter of Secretary of State William H. Seward. It commemorates a figure from the 19th century whose family played a notable role in American affairs.
The statue is easily accessible, standing in a public square in the central part of the city and reachable from several streets. The area has good sidewalk coverage and offers clear views of the sculpture from different angles.
Sculptor John Cavanaugh shaped the entire statue from lead, creating it fully in three dimensions rather than using flat modeling techniques. This hands-on approach was unusual for its era and reflects a labor-intensive commitment to the craft.
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