The James Cardinal Gibbons Memorial Statue | |
 Statue in 2008 | |
  | |
| Location | Reservation 309-G, 16th St. & Park Rd.NW.,Washington, District of Columbia |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 38°55′53″N77°2′10.31″W / 38.93139°N 77.0361972°W /38.93139; -77.0361972 |
| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1932 (1932) |
| Architect | Leo Lentelli |
| MPS | Memorials in Washington, D.C. |
| NRHP reference No. | 07001051[1] |
| Added to NRHP | October 11, 2007 |
The James Cardinal Gibbons Memorial Statue is a public artwork byLeo Lentelli, located at theShrine of the Sacred Heart,16th Street and Park RoadNorthwest, Washington, D.C., United States.
The James Cardinal Gibbons Memorial Statue was originally surveyed as part of theSmithsonian'sSave Outdoor Sculpture! survey in 1993.[2] It was listed with theNational Register of Historic Places in 2007.
It is abronze figure ofJames Gibbons seated, wearing cardinal's robes. In his proper left hand he holds a cross which hangs from his neck. His proper right hand is raised as if giving a blessing. The base, which is made ofgranite and stands at a height of 8 ft. and width of 10 ft., and weighs 2,500 pounds, has a relief of a shield topped with an ecclesiastical hat called agalero. The shield has the coat of arms of the Roman CatholicArchdiocese of Baltimore on the left, joined with the Cardinal's personalcoat of arms on the right. Around the shield are rows of tassels that represent theranks of clergy. In this case, 15 rows indicate Gibbons' rank as Cardinal.[citation needed]
The front of the base displays:
The rear of the base displays:
On the left side of the base is the artist's name and the founder's mark:
The James Cardinal Gibbons Memorial Statue was authorized byCongress andPresident Calvin Coolidge on April 23, 1928. The piece was commissioned by theKnights of Columbus and cost, at no expense to the United States, $35,998. The piece was unveiled on August 14, 1932.[3][4]John F. Connelly attended the dedication ceremony.[5]
The sculpture was installed to coincide with the Knights of Columbus' 50th anniversary. They chose to dedicate a sculpture on behalf of Gibbons because of his "preeminence as a great American." The sculpture was created in Lentelli's New York studio.[6]
On February 22, 2007, the Gibbons Memorial was declared a Washington, D.C., historic site. On October 11, 2007, it was added to theNational Register of Historic Places.[7]
