The Binney Memorial - Watertown, MA - Smithsonian Art Inventory Sculptures on Waymarking.com

A 7' by 4.5' by 3' block of white marble contains two relief sculptures, each in a niche on opposite sides of the memorial. On one side is depicted a levitating male figure. He is wrapped a flowing robes of drapery. His hands are outstretched from the robes at waist level. On the other side is depicted a draped female with her head covered. She is standing, looking down, while clutching an urn to her chest with her right hand. Her left hand is touching her forehead. A drape with graceful folds covers the top and sides of the monument so that only the niches and a small part of the top are exposed. On the top above the male figure is a wreath, slightly covered by the drape.

The sculpture rests on a set of three marble steps. It was created by Thomas Crawford between 1847 - 1850. It was his sole work of funerary art. It has been designated an "American Treasure" by the National Trust for Historic preservation and the White House Millennium Committee.

On the second step below the male figure is the inscription:

AMOS.BINNEY.M.D
DIED AT ROME
FEBRUARY 18.1847.AGED 41

On the second step below the female figure is the inscription:

MARY ANN WIFE OF AMOS BINNEY M.D.
DIED JUNE 6, 1884. AGE 79 YEARS.
AMOS BINNEY
DIED MAR. 11, 1880. AGED 50 YEARS

On the side with the drape not touching the steps, the second step is inscribed:

JOHN BINNEY
DIED AUG. 30, 1851. AGED (....inscription illegible) YEARS
ANNA BINNEY (BRINTON inscription mostly illegible)
DIED JULY 17. 1870. AGED (...inscription illegible)

On the side with the drape reaching the second step, the second step is inscribed:

HENRY PRENTICE BINNEY
DIED APR. 17. 1878. AGED 40 YEARS.
WILLIAM GREENE BINNEY
DIED AUG. 3. 1909. AGED 75 YEARS.

TITLE: The Binney Memorial ARTIST(S): Thomas Crawford DATE: 1847 -1850 MEDIUM: Marble CONTROL NUMBER: IAS 76005553 Direct Link to the Individual Listing in the Smithsonian Art Inventory: [Web Link] PHYSICAL LOCATION: Mount Auburn Cemetery off Fir Avenue between Heath and Columbine Paths entrance 580 Mt. Auburn St. Cambridge, MA DIFFERENCES NOTED BETWEEN THE INVENTORY LISTING AND YOUR OBSERVATIONS AND RESEARCH: The entire monument is beautifully restored. The damage on the second step makes part of the inscription illegible. AMOS.BINNEY.M.D DIED AT ROME FEBRUARY 18.1847.AGED 41 instead of (note age difference and punctuation): AMOS.BINNEY.MD/DIED AT ROME/FEBRUARY 18, 1847. AGED 51 ------------------------------------------- MARY ANN WIFE OF AMOS BINNEY M.D. DIED JUNE 6, 1884. AGE 79 YEARS. AMOS BINNEY DIED MAR. 11, 1880. AGED 50 YEARS Instead of (note M.D. replaces MD and punctuation: MARY ANN WIFE OF AMOS BINNEY MD/DIED JUNE 6, 1884 AGE 79 YEARS/AMOS BINNEY/DIED MAR. 11, 1880. AGED 50 YEARS ---------------------------------------------- JOHN BINNEY DIED AUG. 30, 1851. AGED (....inscription illegible) YEARS ANNA BINNEY (BRINTON inscription mostly illegible) DIED JULY 17. 1870. AGED (...inscription illegible) The illegible last name is BRINTON Instead of JOHN BINNEY/DIED AUG. 30, 1851. AGED (....inscription illegible) YEARS/ANNA BINNEY (...inscription illegible)/DIED JULY 17, 1870. AGED (...inscription illegible) ------------------------------------------- HENRY PRENTICE BINNEY DIED APR. 17. 1878. AGED 40 YEARS. WILLIAM GREENE BINNEY DIED AUG. 3. 1909. AGED 75 YEARS. Instead of (note April is abbreviated APR.): HENRY PRENTICE BINNEY/DIED APRIL 17, 1878. AGED 40 YEARS/WILLIAM GREENE BINNEY/DIED AUG. 3, 1909. AGED 75 YEARS

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.

Recent Visits/Logs:

There are no logs for this waymark yet.