William Tecumseh Sherman, Bronze equestrian monument at Grand Army Plaza, Fifth Avenue in Manhattan, United States
This gilded bronze equestrian work depicts General Sherman on horseback with a winged Victory figure leading the way. The monument combines the military leader with symbolic elements of power and progress.
Completed in 1903, this was the final major project of renowned sculptor Augustus Saint-Gaudens. It was created during a period when the nation was still processing the generation that fought the Civil War.
The Victory figure wears flowing drapery and points forward with her hand as she guides the general forward. This representation reflects how public monuments use allegorical figures to convey themes of triumph and leadership.
The work sits at the corner of Fifth Avenue and 59th Street, making it easy to reach at a major intersection. A visit works best in daylight when you can see the bronze details clearly and take in the full plaza setting.
The model for the Victory figure was a Black artist named Harriette Eugenia Anderson, which was unusual for monumental artworks of that era. This choice offers an interesting detail in the history of American monuments.
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