Statue of Charles Sumner, Bronze statue in Public Garden, Boston, United States.
The Statue of Charles Sumner is an over-life-size bronze sculpture in Boston's Public Garden, showing the senator holding papers in his left hand while gesturing with his right. The work stands as one of several monuments throughout the park dedicated to notable historical figures.
Sculptor Thomas Ball created this memorial following Charles Sumner's death in 1874, with the work being dedicated in 1878. The Boston Art Committee selected Ball to honor the influential senator through this bronze commission.
The statue reflects the complex story of 19th-century art competitions, as the original winning design by Anne Whitney was rejected when her gender was discovered.
The monument is located within Boston's Public Garden and is easy to reach on foot as part of a walking tour through the park. It remains accessible year-round since the garden is open to visitors at all times.
Artist Anne Whitney initially designed the memorial and won a competition, but her design was rejected when her gender was revealed. This led to sculptor Thomas Ball being commissioned instead, reflecting the biases that shaped 19th-century art institutions.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
