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Washington Monument

The Washington Monument in Philadelphia is a large-scale bronze and granite sculpture created by German sculptor Rudolf Siemering in 1897. It features an equestrian statue of George Washington atop a multi-level pedestal with allegorical and historical figures. The monument was originally placed at the Green Street entrance to Fairmount Park and was relocated in 1926 to the Eakins Oval in front of the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Commissioned by the State Society of the Cincinnati of Pennsylvania and given to the city of Philadelphia, it combines bronze bas-reliefs, a pink Swedish granite base, and four corner fountains representing major rivers.

Washington Monument with a large equestrian statue and tiered sculptural figures at the top.
Washington Monument shown in a vintage photograph, with its dramatic equestrian statue and surrounding sculptural figures.
1916 © · No restrictions
The Washington Monument in Fairmount Park rises above a tiered stone plaza with several people standing nearby, including one holding an umbrella.
The Washington Monument at Fairmount Park is shown with visitors gathered around its stone base.
© Detroit Publishing Company · Public domain
Pencil sketch of the Washington Monument framed by trees and a curving path in the foreground.
The Washington Monument is shown in a pencil sketch with trees and a winding path surrounding it.
1914 © · Public domain
Close-up profile of a sculpted bison head with shaggy fur and a single visible horn.
Detail of a bison head from the George Washington statue group at the Washington Monument in Philadelphia.
1938 © · Public domain
Bronze equestrian statue in front of the Philadelphia Museum of Art and terraced steps across a roadway.
A bronze equestrian statue stands before the Philadelphia Museum of Art, with the museum’s terraced steps visible in the background.
June 2022 © · CC BY-SA 4.0

Identification

TitleWashington Monument
SubjectGeorge Washington
TypeMonumental memorial ensemble with equestrian statue

Location and ownership

LocationEakins Oval, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States, at the end of the Benjamin Franklin Parkway in front of the Philadelphia Museum of Art
Original planned locationWashington Square, Philadelphia
Original locationGreen Street entrance to Fairmount Park
Current locationEakins Oval in front of the Philadelphia Museum of Art
Commissioned byState Society of the Cincinnati of Pennsylvania
Presented toThe city of Philadelphia

Historical context

Relocation date1926
Centennial restorationFour-year restoration completed in 1997 for the centennial
Transferred tothe Fairmount Park Commission by Mayor Charles F. Warwick
Main oration byJudge William W. Porter of the State Society of the Cincinnati
Unveiled byPresident William McKinley
Relocation reasonAs part of the City Beautiful plan
Dedicated onMay 15, 1897
Benjamin Franklin Parkway designed in1917
Park commissioners approved site1895
Initial resolution dateJuly 4, 1810
Contract signedOctober 19, 1881
Negotiations began1880
Proposal date1879
Second fund established1824 by citizens of Philadelphia

Creator

BackgroundArtist of the Berlin School of sculpture
Proposed byRudolf Siemering
Sculptor known forthe Leipzig Victory Monument in Leipzig's market square
Sculptor residenceBerlin
Sculptor nationalityGerman
SculptorRudolf Siemering

Physical characteristics

FountainsFour fountains beneath the allegories
Higher level figuresFour over-life-size allegories
Number of pedestals in the staircaseEight
Left handHolds the horse's reins
Stair arrangementThirteen-step staircase around a central elevated base
BasePink Swedish granite base with surrounding staircase
Central pedestalBronze pedestal
Number of steps13
Right handHolds a command staff
PoseMounted on horseback
Top figure objectSpyglass in his right hand
Top figure clothingTraditional military uniform, cape, and tricorner hat
Top figure orientationFacing southeast toward Philadelphia City Hall
Main figureEquestrian statue of George Washington
Structure levelsThree levels
ClothingUniform of the Continental Army

Materials

Side relief materialBronze bas-reliefs
Main material of staircaseSwedish granite
Pedestal materialBronze
Base materialPink Swedish granite
MaterialsBronze and granite

Appearance

Additional figuresAllegorical and historical figures
Animal figuresLife-sized figures of North American fauna, including two wapiti deer, two bison, two moose, one bear, and one bull
Female figure at the frontPersonification of America with trident and cornucopia
Companion figures on frontTwo uniformed figures kneeling at her feet, one offering a laurel wreath and the other the Declaration of Independence
American eagleAmerican eagle with outspread wings below the front group
Front animalAmerican eagle below America
Depicted peopleFour Native Americans shown reclining behind the fountains
Animal roleNative animals guard the fountains on each side

Iconography and meaning

Fountain symbolismThe four major rivers of the United States: the Delaware, Hudson, Mississippi, and Potomac
Historical contextIdeas for a monument to Washington arose in Philadelphia partly because the Declaration of Independence was issued there on July 4, 1776, and the Constitutional Convention met there in 1787
Inscription above pedestalErected by the State Society of the Cincinnati of Pennsylvania
Relief themesThe march of the army and the westward march of emigrants
Top figure meaningWashington's service as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War
Step symbolismThirteen steps symbolize the thirteen original states
Represented themeThe country during Washington's time
PurposeMemorial
Bottom level meaningThe natural world during Washington's time

Technique

Face modelBased on a copy of a life mask of Washington
Reference materialOther photographs and lithographs were also provided to the sculptor as models
Stylistic featuresRealistic formal language with neo-Baroque elements
Artistic traditionEuropean equestrian statues and national monuments
Main artistic influenceChristian Daniel Rauch
Comparison to another workParallels to Rauch's equestrian statue of Frederick the Great

History and restoration

Listed onPhiladelphia Register of Historic Places
Listing dateJune 29, 1971
Relocated in1928
Listed asWashington Fountain, Eakins Oval
Moved fromthe entrance to Fairmount Park

Discovery and provenance

Presented byMajor William Wayne, president of the State Society of the Cincinnati and a direct descendant of Revolutionary War general Anthony Wayne
Monument committee memberJohn Sartain

Other

Duplicate casts locationFloraplatz in the Berlin Tiergarten
Duplicate casts date1901
Post-atelier eventAfter a visit to Rudolf Siemering's studio, Wilhelm II saw the animal figures and ordered new casts of them