Nurses' Alumnae Association Sundial Sculpture - Boston, MA
Posted by: 
neoc1
N 42° 21.734 W 071° 04.070
19T E 329718 N 4692066
A sundial sculpture dedicated to nurses and the nursing profession is located on the grounds of the Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston
Waymark Code: WMHXC7
Location: Massachusetts, United States
Date Posted: 08/23/2013
Views: 2
A large sundial has a meaningful symbolic sculpture as part of its 6' high bronze gnomon. Each of three figure on the sculpture represents an era in the history of nursing. A nearby plaque explains the significance in the words of the artist, Nancy Schön. The sundial was dedicated on the grounds of the Massachusetts General Hospital in May 2004.
Roman numerals of this large sundial mark the hours from six a.m. to six p.m. The gnomon is an allegorical sculpture and the dial carries two inscriptions.
The first is a quote from Florence Nightingale:
NURSING IS AN ART
THE FINEST OF THE
FINE ARTS
FLORENCE NIGHINGALE 1868
The second is a quote from Ruth Sleeper:
ALWAYS, ALWAYS MORE TO SEE, MORE TO LEARN,
MORE TO DO...
TO IMPROVE BOTH CARE AND CURE
RUTH SLEEPER 1966
The companion plaque explains the purpose and meaning.
GIFT OF
MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL HOSPITAL
NURSES' ALUMNAE ASSOCIATION INC.
DEDICATED MAY 2004
ARTIST: NANCY SCHÖN
THE SUNDIAL REPRESENTS TIMELESSNESS AND SYMBOLIZES THE CONSTANT
PRESENCE THAT NURSES PROVIDE TO THOSE ENTRUSTED TO THEIR CARE
DAILY AND THROUGHOUT THE HUMAN CYCLE.
THE FIGURES REPRESENT PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE:
PAST CARRIES A LAMP TO HONOR TH LEGACY OF FLORENCE NIGHTINGALE,
PRESENT HOLDS A BOOK SYMBOLIZING INTELLECTUAL AND SCIENTIFIC
ADVANCES IN THE PROFESSSION,
AND FUTURE CARRIES A GLOBE TO SIGNIFY THE UNIVERSALITY OF NURSING.