Walt Whitman

Object Details

Artist

Paul Wayland Bartlett, born New Haven, CT 1865-died Paris, France 1925

Sitter

Walt Whitman

Luce Center Label

Sculptors often create medals to honor famous individuals, and here we see an image of the poet Walt Whitman (1819-1892), who wrote the classic Leaves of Grass in 1855. Whitman’s work was a landmark in American literature that celebrated the poetry of everyday life in a young and democratic nation. Paul Wayland Bartlett’s irregularly shaped medal is likely a study for a more finished work.

Credit Line

Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Mrs. Armistead Peter III

modeled ca. 1887-1889

Object number

1958.11.24

Restrictions & Rights

CC0

Type

Sculpture-Relief

Medium

bronze

Dimensions

9 5/8 in. (24.4 cm) diam.

See more items in

Smithsonian American Art Museum Collection

Department

Painting and Sculpture

Smithsonian American Art Museum

Topic

Dress\accessory\hat

Portrait male\bust

Occupation\writer\poet

Record ID

saam_1958.11.24

Metadata Usage (text)

CC0

GUID (Link to Original Record)

http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/vk7e1a9918f-b7fa-4dfb-b07a-3dd3c52d85ca