Samuel Gross, sculpture by Alexander Stirling Calder
Samuel Gross is a bronze sculpture on a medical college campus in Philadelphia that depicts a standing surgeon from the 19th century. The roughly nine-foot tall statue rests on a pink granite base and stands behind the Scott Building with an inscription on its front.
The statue was created in the late 1800s to honor an influential American surgeon and author who served during the Civil War. It originally stood in Washington D.C. but was relocated to the Jefferson Medical College campus in Philadelphia in the 1970s.
The statue honors a pioneering surgeon whose teaching shaped medical practice in America. It stands on the campus of a medical college where students pass by daily, connecting the institution's heritage to its present work.
The statue is located on the Jefferson Medical College campus and is visible from the street, though it sits behind a building. Access is typically free, and the area is easy to explore when visiting the campus.
The artist based his depiction on old photographs taken when the surgeon was young, so the monument shows a younger man than many visitors might expect. This choice makes the statue a special portrait of his most productive years.
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