Statue of Alexander Hamilton - Boston, MA
Posted by: 
NorStar
N 42° 21.199 W 071° 04.342
19T E 329320 N 4691085
This statue is a none-foot carving by William Rimmer, using impressionistic techniques that were criticized at the time, but its qualities receive present-day recognition.
Waymark Code: WMBYJ5
Location: Massachusetts, United States
Date Posted: 07/04/2011
Views: 6
In Boston's Back Bay section is the Commonwealth Avenue Mall, a narrow strip of parkland between the lanes of the avenue. Along this mall is a statue of President Alexander Hamilton.
The American Guide Series for Massachusetts have the following to say about this statue:
9. The Statue of Alexander Hamilton, is a nine-foot, full-length granite carving by William Rimmer, a self-taught Boston sculptor and teacher of Daniel Chester French. Frimmer had a theory, ahead of his time, of working impressionistically without models. Though contemporary criticism was violently adverse, the statue was admired by Hamilton's own family for its graceful and somewhat aloof pose, characteristic of its subject. Its ultra-modern qualities receive present-day recognition.
--- American Guide Series: Massachusetts - A Guide to Its Places and People, p. 149.
The statue still stands and is in good condition. The text did not describe the statue in any detail, so I'll present some, here. The statue is a full figure of Alexander Hamilton on a four-side pedestal, with the bottom part made of darker gray than the rest of the statue. Hamilton is draped in loose robes and looks ahead, giving the impression of aloofness. On the pedestal are several passages of text and designs.
The front has profiles of three faces - I'm not sure what these faces are of. At the bottom is the text, "The gift of Thomas Lee."
On one side is the text:
"Orator, writer, soldier, jurist,
financier
Although his particular
Province was the Treasury,
His genius pervaded the whole
Administration of Washington"
Another side bears the text:
"Alexander Hamilton
Born in the island of
Nevis, West Indies
11 January 1757,
Died in New York, 12 July 1804."
As far as how this statue is critiqued today, it seems that it is favorably looked on. See the link to the Boston Public Art web site for specifics on this statue.
Source:
Public Art Boston.com (Alexander Hamilton):
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