|
 The Spirit of the American Doughboy - Helena-West Helena, AR
N 34° 31.752 W 090° 35.168
15S E 721546 N 3823481
One of Viquesney's Spirit of the American Doughboy statues stands in the center of the intersection of Cherry and Perry Streets, watching over the town square in Helena-West Helena, AR.
Waymark Code: WMKMX5
Location: Arkansas, United States
Date Posted: 05/04/2014
Views: 5
Description:
Figure of a World War I infantryman advancing through the stumps and barbed wire of No Man's Land. Some of the barbed wire is broken. He holds a rifle in his proper left hand and a grenade in his upraised proper right hand. The rifle barrel and bayonet are missing.
Dimensions:
Figure: approx. 76 x 40 x 58 in.; Base: approx. H. 9 ft. Diam. 12 ft.
Inscriptions:
(Proper right side of plinth:) E. M. VIQUESNEY SC. (Bronze plaque on south face of base:) ERECTED IN HONOR/OF/THE MEN AND WOMEN/OF/PHILLIPS COUNTY/WHO SERVED IN THE/WORLD WAR/1917-1918 signed
TITLE: The Spirit of the American Doughboy, (sculpture)
ARTIST(S): E.M. Viquesney, sculptor, 1876-1946
DATE: Circa 1920. Dedicated July 10, 1927
MEDIUM: Figure: sheet copper with dark brown patina; Base: concrete.
CONTROL NUMBER: IAS 47260005
Direct Link to the Individual Listing in the Smithsonian Art Inventory: [Web Link]
PHYSICAL LOCATION:
Inside the intersection of Cherry and Perry Streets, Helena-West Helena, AR.
DIFFERENCES NOTED BETWEEN THE INVENTORY LISTING AND YOUR OBSERVATIONS AND RESEARCH:
Unable to verify the plinth inscription, which would require climbing the statue in a busy intersection. The bronze plaque on the south of the base is missing two of its corner buttons -- the ones with the stars) on the right side, and does not appear to be signed in any way. It actually says "MEN & WOMEN" and not "MEN AND WOMEN". The rifle, bayonet, and barbed wire are damaged as described.
|
Visit Instructions:
Please give the date of your visit, your impressions of the sculpture, and at least ONE ORIGINAL PHOTOGRAPH. Add any additional information you may have, particularly any personal observations about the condition of the sculpture.
|