Robert Treat Paine Monument - Taunton, MA - Smithsonian Art Inventory Sculptures on Waymarking.com

In Taunton, southeast of the center of town, is a statue of Robert Treat Paine.

The statue is in the intersection of Summer Street and U.S. Route 44, which is Main Street on the west side of the intersection, and Church Green on the east side. The statue is on a traffic island that splits the lanes for Summer Street. The statue is also in front of the Taunton City Hall and near the First Parish Church.

The bronze statue is about 8 ft high and is on top of a two part base made of granite. The lower portion that contains a garden is made of a grey granite about 13 ft high (the listing says Rockport granite), and the pedestal portion is made of a pink granite (the listing says Red Beach granite).

Paine is standing, with his left leg forward. In his right hand is a quill pen. In his left is a piece of paper/parchment. The head is looking downward. The body is sourrounded by an open cloak.

The front of the pedestal has bronze decoration with the following text:

"Robert Treat Paine
1904"

Engraved on the pedestal in the rear is the following text:

"A signer of the Declaration of Independence
* * *
July 4 - 1776"

On the right (east) side of the sculpture, is the text, "L. Gasne." The text on the inventory page didn't mention this text - I'm assuming that this is the founder mark.

On the left (west) side is the text, "R.E.Brooks/Paris/1902"

Robert Treat Paine came to Taunton and established his law practice there. He married into a local family and lived there for a time before moving to Boston. He had a long public life, serviing as a representative in the Massachusetts General Court, as a representative in the Continental Congress, and served as Attorney General for the State of Massachusetts. He lived from 1731 to 1814.

Source:

Wikipedia (Robert Treat Paine):
(visit link)

TITLE: Robert Treat Paine Monument ARTIST(S): Richard Edwin Brooks DATE: 11/15/1904 MEDIUM: Bronze CONTROL NUMBER: IAS 76009046 Direct Link to the Individual Listing in the Smithsonian Art Inventory: [Web Link] PHYSICAL LOCATION: At the intersection of U.S. Route 44 (Main Street-Church Green) and Summer Street. DIFFERENCES NOTED BETWEEN THE INVENTORY LISTING AND YOUR OBSERVATIONS AND RESEARCH: Possibly add to the inventory page - "At the base of the sculpture, on the right side (of Paine) is the text, "L Gasne.""

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Date Logged Log   09/25/2016 BikeCamera visited it