Alma Mater, (sculpture)
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Object Details
- sculptor
- French, Daniel Chester 1850-1931
- architect
- McKim, Charles Follen 1847-1909
- founder
- Jno. Williams, Inc.
- architectural firm
- McKim, Mead & White
- Index of American Sculpture, University of Delaware, 1985
- Gayle, Margot & Michele Cohen, "Guide to Manhattan's Outdoor Sculpture," New York: Prentice Hall, 1988, pg. 296.
- Lederer, Joseph, "All Around the Town: A Walking Guide to Outdoor Sculpture in New York City," New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1975.
- National Park Service, American Monuments and Outdoor Sculpture Database, NY5117, 1989.
- Monumental News, Nov. 1903; April 1905.
- Save Outdoor Sculpture, New York, New York survey, 1993.
- Image on file.
- Gayle, Margot & Michele Cohen, "Guide to Manhattan's Outdoor Sculpture," New York: Prentice Hall, 1988, pg. 296.
- Monumental News, Nov. 1903, pg. 647.
- D. C. French Sc-1903/JNO. Williams/Bronze Foundry.New York. (Back of sculpture:) IN LUMINE TUO VIDEBIMUS LUMEN (Back of base:) IN MEMORY OF ROBERT GOELET CLASS OF 1860 (Copper inlay on front of base:) IN MEMORY OF/ROBERT GOELET/CLASS OF 1860 (Front of base:) ALMA MATER signed Founder's mark appears.
- The information provided about this artwork was compiled as part of the Smithsonian American Art Museum's Inventories of American Painting and Sculpture database, designed to provide descriptive and location information on artworks by American artists in public and private collections worldwide.
- Summary
- Draped in an academic gown, the female figure of Alma Mater wears a crown of laurels and sits on a throne. The scroll-like arms of the throne end in lamps, representing Doctrina and Sapientia. A book signifying knowledge, balances on her lap, and an owl, the attribute of wisdom, is seen in the folds of the gown. Her right hand holds a scepter composed of four sprays of wheat, terminating with a crown of King's College which refers to Columbia's orgin as a Royalist institution in 1754.
- 1900-1903. Installed 1903. Dedicated September 23, 1903
- Control number
- IAS 76009559
- Type
- Sculptures-Outdoor Sculpture
- Sculptures
- Medium
- Sculpture: bronze; Base: granite or marble
- Owner/Location
- Administered by Columbia University Office of Art Properties West Gallery - Low Library New York New York 10027
- Located Columbia University Low Library New York New York 10027
- Art Inventories Catalog, Smithsonian American Art Museums
- Topic
- Figure female--Full length
- Allegory--Arts & Sciences--Education
- Object--Written Matter--Book
- Object--Other--Scepter
- Animal--Bird--Owl
- Record ID
- siris_ari_20526
- Metadata Usage (text)
- Usage conditions apply