The Confederate Monument -- AL State Capitol grounds, Montgomery AL
N 32° 22.703 W 086° 18.032
16S E 565795 N 3582593
A towering and elaborate Confederate Monument repeats all the familiar "Lost Cause" tropes on the north side of the Alabama State Capitol in Montgomery
Waymark Code: WMWFHC
Location: Alabama, United States
Date Posted: 08/28/2017
Views: 7
An elaborate and detailed Confederate Monument stands defiantly on the north side of the AL State Capitol grounds in Montgomery AL. Former Confederate President Jefferson Davis himself laid the cornerstone of the monument, which repeats and reinforces all the flowery (and false) "Lost Cause" mythology that arose in the South in the 1890s to recast the South's reasons for fighting the Civil War from defense and preservation of slavery to "states rights" and "patriotism," and celebrated all Confederates as honorable, chivalrous men of honor, "without stain."
The memorial consists of a tall central pillar topped with a bronze stern-faced female figure holding a tall furled Confederate flag on a flagpole in her left hand and a sheathed cavalry sword in her right hand.
Around the pillar, "1861-1865 Consecrated to the memory of the Confederate Soldiers and Seamen" is carved beneath a bronze relief of battle scenes.
Four relief-carved stone figures on plinths are arranged around the central pillar representing the Confederate Army infantry soldier [S side], the Confederate Navy sailor [N side], the Confederate Army cavalry soldier [W side], and a the Confederate Army artilleryman [E side].
Each plinth that holds a statue is incised with a flowery quote as follows:
[S side]
"Fame's temple boasts no higher name,
No king is grander on his throne;
No glory shines with brighter gleam,
The name of 'Patriot' stands alone."
C.T.R.
[E side]
"When this historic shaft shall crumbling lie
In ages hence, in woman's heart will be,
A folded flag, a thrilling page unrolled,
A deathless song of southern chivalry."
I.M.P.O.
[N side]
"These seamen of Confederate fame
Started the wondering world;
For braver fight was never fought,
And fairer flag was never furled."
ANON.
[W side]
"The knightliest of the knightly race
Who since the days of old,
Have kept the lamp of chivalry
Alight in hearts of gold."
F.O.T.
On the northeast side a cornerstone was laid by former CSA President Jefferson Davis, and is inscribed as follows:
"This corner stone was laid by
Jefferson Davis.
President of C.S.A.
April 29, 1886."
TITLE: The Confederate Monument
ARTIST(S): Gorda Doud (designer) and Doyle Alexander (sculptor)
DATE: 1885-1896. Dedicated Dec. 7, 1898.
MEDIUM: Sculpture: Russellville limestone, granite, and bronze; Base: Russellville limestone over brick.
CONTROL NUMBER: IAS 75000120
Direct Link to the Individual Listing in the Smithsonian Art Inventory: [Web Link]
PHYSICAL LOCATION:
N side of the AL State Capitol grounds
DIFFERENCES NOTED BETWEEN THE INVENTORY LISTING AND YOUR OBSERVATIONS AND RESEARCH:
none
|
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.