Andrew Jackson, Bronze equestrian statue at Lafayette Square, Washington D.C., United States.
Andrew Jackson is a bronze equestrian statue on Lafayette Square in Washington, D.C., showing the general on a rearing horse balanced solely on its hind legs. The figure wears a military uniform, holds a tricorn hat, and stands at the center of the park directly north of the White House.
The statue was cast in 1852 from captured British cannons of the War of 1812 and commemorates Jackson's victory at the Battle of New Orleans in 1815. The unveiling marked a turning point in American sculpture, as it was the country's first major bronze monument.
The monument was created by Clark Mills, who taught himself bronze casting techniques and designed North America's first equestrian work. The figure shows Jackson in a moment of triumph, the horse rearing on its hind legs, a form Mills developed without any academic training.
The monument stands at the center of Lafayette Square and is accessible from all sides, with interpretive panels in several languages explaining the history of the work. The square sits directly across from the north entrance of the White House and serves as a starting point for walks through the government district.
The horse balances entirely on its hind legs without any additional support, a technical achievement Mills reached through careful weight distribution. To find the right form, the artist first built a wooden model and spent months experimenting with the posture of rider and animal.
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