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The Minute Man

The Minute Man is a sculpture by Daniel Chester French, created between 1871 and 1874 and installed in Minute Man National Historical Park in Concord, Massachusetts. Originally intended to be carved in stone, it was instead cast in bronze using ten Civil War-era cannons appropriated by Congress. The statue shows a young militiaman stepping away from his plow, with a coat draped over it and a musket in his hand, as he joins the patriot forces at the Battle of Concord at the start of the American Revolutionary War. Unveiled in 1875 for the centennial of the battle, the work received critical praise and remains widely admired.

The Minute Man bronze statue of a colonial militiaman holding a musket beside a plow on a stone pedestal in a park.
The Minute Man statue stands on a stone pedestal in a leafy park under a partly cloudy sky.
© Unknown authorUnknown author · Public domain
The Minute Man statue shows a man in colonial attire holding a musket beside a plow handle on a stone pedestal.
The Minute Man statue stands outdoors on a stone pedestal, with the figure holding a musket beside a plow handle.
© Abdalian, Leon H., 1884-1967 · Public domain
The Minute Man statue stands on a stone pedestal in a grassy area, holding a long gun with carved reliefs and inscriptions on the base.
The Minute Man statue on its carved stone pedestal in a grassy setting.
1905 © · No restrictions
The Minute Man bronze statue stands on a stone monument with a musket, plow, and coat at the base, while a black dog sits nearby.
The Minute Man statue rises above its stone monument, with a black dog seated at the base outdoors.
September 2019 © · CC BY-SA 4.0
War savings stamp featuring The Minute Man statue with a rifle beside a plow.
A World War II-era war savings stamp depicting The Minute Man statue.
1942 © US Government · Public domain

Identification

TitleThe Minute Man
TypeStatue
Alternative titlesConcord Minute Man; Minuteman Statue; The Concord Minute Man of 1775

Creator

ArtistDaniel Chester French
Artist nationalityAmerican
Notable work by artistAbraham Lincoln at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C.

Historical context

Historical significanceMarks the beginning of the American Revolutionary War
Historical event depictedBattle of Concord, at the beginning of the American Revolutionary War
CommemoratesThe Battle of Lexington and Concord
Created forthe centennial celebration of the Battle of Concord
CompletedSeptember 1874
Created between1871 and 1874

Discovery and provenance

Early study modelA small clay figure made in summer 1871 was rejected by the committee; its appearance is unknown and it was not saved
Casting material sourceTen Civil War-era cannons appropriated by Congress
Funding for castingConcord lacked sufficient funds, so Congress appropriated ten Civil War-era cannons for the project
FoundryAmes Manufacturing Works, Chicopee, Massachusetts
Plaster sent to foundryA plaster version of the clay statue was sent to Ames Manufacturing Works in Chicopee, Massachusetts
Accepted modelFrench's second clay model was accepted in 1873
Research anecdoteAccording to Harold Holzer, young women reportedly brought French supposed colonial artifacts to help with his research
Model historical noteFirst combat death at Concord during the Battle of Lexington and Concord
Model occupationCaptain of the militia of the town of Acton
ModelIsaac Davis (1745–1775), possibly
Research basisCreated after extensive research using powder horns, period buttons, classical sculpture casts, and other colonial-era references
Preliminary work began1871, before the formal commission
Commissioned becauseFrench was from Concord and his father, Henry F. French, was a prominent local lawyer and former judge
Commissioned bya Concord committee including George M. Brooks, John B. More, John S. Keyes, and Ralph Waldo Emerson

History and restoration

Reworking commissionIn 1889, Concord commissioned French to rework the statue for the USS Concord
Later copyThe USS Concord also carried a copy of the statue in the 1940s
Reworked version changesRemoved some imperfections and made the movement more fluid and natural
Reworked version styleIncluded Beaux-Arts elements
Reworked version installationInstalled on the gunboat USS Concord in 1891
Reworked version titleThe Concord Minute Man of 1775
Reworked version completion1890
Initial receptionReceived positive reviews from art critics and the public
Unveiling attendeesPresident Ulysses S. Grant and Ralph Waldo Emerson
Unveiling occasionCentennial celebration of the Battle of Concord
Unveiling dateApril 19, 1875
Completion of cast version1874
Material changeChanged from stone to bronze in 1873
Artist absence at unveilingFrench was in Italy studying sculpture and did not attend

Physical characteristics

Pose resemblanceThe pose resembles the Apollo Belvedere
Modern art historical interpretationModern scholarship, based on French's diaries, rejects the idea that the pose is a direct copy, while recognizing that French used several classical plaster casts, including the Apollo Belvedere, as inspiration
Earlier interpretation of poseUntil the late twentieth century, it was assumed the pose was copied from the Apollo Belvedere
Possible subject identityA portrait of Isaac Davis, possibly
Figure depicted asA young farmer turned soldier
SubjectA minuteman leaving his plow to join the patriot forces at the Battle of Concord

Appearance

Action portrayedTrading his plow for a musket and stepping away from private life toward the impending battle
Attributes depictedA coat draped over the plow and a musket in his hand
HatA wide-brimmed hat pinned on the right side of his head
Powder horn placementOn his back rather than at his hip
Facial expressionAlert
Gaze directionFixed on the battle he is ready to march to
Clothing detailsThe sleeves of his coat and shirt are rolled up

Location and ownership

Rear pedestal inscriptionThe date of the battle and the centennial year
Second time capsule contentsGirl Scouts USA pins, the United States Bicentennial flag, and a cassette tape
Second time capsuleA second time capsule was placed beneath the pedestal in 1975
Time capsule contentsItems from Battle of Concord celebrations, maps, and photographs of the sculpture and sculptor
Time capsule under pedestalA copper time capsule from 1875
Pedestal dimensionsExact measurements not stated
Pedestal design competitionCabot won the competition; French's brother also submitted a design
Front pedestal inscriptionThe first stanza of Ralph Waldo Emerson's 'Concord Hymn'
Pedestal inscriptionsInscribed on two sides
Pedestal formA simple stone pedestal
Pedestal materialGranite
Pedestal designerJames Elliot Cabot
Intended locationOn a local rock or boulder by the town of Concord, on the bank where the Massachusetts militia stood during the battle
Current locationNear Old North Bridge in Minute Man National Historical Park, Concord, Massachusetts, United States

Significance

Critical receptionReceived critical praise and continues to be praised by commentators
SymbolismA suffragist symbol; a symbol of the United States National Guard, the Army National Guard, and the Air National Guard
Depictions on currency and stampsFeatured on the 1925 Lexington-Concord Sesquicentennial half dollar, the 2000 Massachusetts state quarter, and a stamp