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Daguerre Memorial

Daguerre Memorial is a granite and bronze monument in Washington, D.C., created by Jonathan Scott Hartley in memory of Louis Daguerre. The sculpture consists of a granite base inscribed with DAGUERRE, topped by a bronze statue of a young woman whose open arms present a medallion with Daguerre’s face. The monument is finished with a granite globe at the top. Two rectangular plaques are fixed to the base, with inscriptions commemorating the first half-century of photography and describing photography, the electric telegraph, and the steam engine as major discoveries of the age. The monument was erected by the Photographers’ Association of America in August 1890.

Daguerre Memorial granite monument with a bronze bust framed by a wreath, a draped female figure, and a globe on top
Daguerre Memorial features a bronze bust framed by a wreath and topped with a globe, with a draped female figure at the side.
© · CC BY 4.0
Daguerre Memorial with a bust, globe, and draped female figure on a pedestal in a park
The Daguerre Memorial shows a bust above a pedestal inscribed with Daguerre, alongside a globe and draped figure.
June 2005 © · No restrictions
Daguerre Memorial stone sculpture with a bust of Daguerre, a large globe, and a draped female figure with a laurel garland.
The Daguerre Memorial features a bust of Louis Daguerre, a globe, and a kneeling female figure framing his portrait with a laurel garland.
September 2010 © · CC BY 2.0
Daguerre Memorial showing a bronze figure kneeling beside a bust, with a garland and globe above the pedestal.
Daguerre Memorial with a bronze figure, bust, and decorative globe and garland.
© · Public domain
Daguerre Memorial with a globe at the top and a kneeling bronze figure at the base
Daguerre Memorial shown in a black-and-white photograph, with a globe atop the monument and a kneeling bronze figure at its base.
© National Photo Company Collection · Public domain

Identification

TitleDaguerre Memorial
Original French nameMonument à Louis Daguerre
TypeMemorial monument

Historical context

Dedication purposeTo celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of photography
Dedication date15 August 1890
Original dedication locationArts and Industries Building
Initial erectionErected at the instigation of the Photographers Association of America, a worldwide trade association of professional photographers
Outdoor location period1897 to 1969
Removal date1969
Reason for removalRemoved and placed in storage to allow for the construction of the Hirshhorn Museum
Relocation and rededicationRelocated and rededicated in 1989
Rededication significance150th anniversary year of photography

Creator

SculptorJonathan Scott Hartley
CasterHenry-Bonnard Bronze Company of New York

Discovery and provenance

Erected byPhotographer's Association of America
Erection date on plaqueAugust 1890

Location and ownership

Current locationOutside the Old Patent Office Building, now home to the Smithsonian American Art Museum and the National Portrait Gallery, on 7th Street N.W., near F Street, in Washington

Materials

MaterialsGranite and bronze
Base materialGranite
Figure materialBronze

Physical characteristics

Figure depictedA young woman
Figure poseLeaning on the base with arms slightly open
Held objectA medallion decorated with the face of Daguerre
Top elementA granite terrestrial globe
Total heightApproximately unspecified in the fragment
Rectangular plaquesTwo rectangular plaques fixed to the base of the pedestal

Iconography and meaning

Commemorated subjectLouis Daguerre
Historical themePhotography
Dedication theme on plaqueThe first half-century in photography, 1839-1889

Appearance

Front inscription on baseDAGUERRE
North-side plaque inscriptionPHOTOGRAPHY, THE ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH, AND THE STEAM ENGINE ARE THE THREE GREAT DISCOVERIES OF THE AGE. NO FIVE CENTURIES IN HUMAN PROGRESS CAN SHOW SUCH STRIDES AS THESE.
South-side plaque inscriptionTO COMMEMORATE THE FIRST HALF-CENTURY IN PHOTOGRAPHY 1839-1889. ERECTED BY THE PHOTOGRAPHER'S ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA, AUGUST, 1890.