 Lafayette Memorial (2021) | |
 Interactive map of Lafayette Memorial | |
| Location | Prospect Park,Brooklyn,New York City,New York,United States |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 40°39′52″N73°58′35.7″W / 40.66444°N 73.976583°W /40.66444; -73.976583 |
| Designer | Daniel Chester French (sculptor) Henry Bacon (architect) |
| Fabricator | Gorham foundry Presbrey-Coykendall Company |
| Material | Bronze Granite |
| Length | 9 feet (2.7 m) |
| Width | 22 feet (6.7 m) |
| Height | 19 feet (5.8 m) |
| Dedicated date | May 10, 1917 |
| Dedicated to | Gilbert du Motier, Marquis de Lafayette |
TheLafayette Memorial is a publicmemorial located inBrooklyn'sProspect Park inNew York City. The memorial, designed by sculptorDaniel Chester French and architectHenry Bacon, was dedicated in 1917 and consists of abas-relief ofGilbert du Motier, Marquis de Lafayette alongside agroom (speculated by some historians to beJames Armistead Lafayette) and ahorse.
The memorial has its origins in thewill of Henry Harteau, a notable citizen ofBrooklyn who died in 1895. Harteau had served in numerous government positions in the city throughout his life, including as a parks commissioner underBrooklyn MayorDaniel D. Whitney. In his will, he stipulated that, after the death of his wife, $35,000 would be allocated to the city of Brooklyn to fund the erection of astatue in honor ofGilbert du Motier, Marquis de Lafayette in the city'sProspect Park. Despite legal challenges to the will and theconsolidation of New York City, when his widow died in 1913, efforts were made to erect a monument for the Marquis de Lafayette.[1] Harteau had requested that the statue be based on the paintingLafayette at Yorktown byJean-Baptiste Le Paon.[2][3]
SculptorDaniel Chester French was selected to design the monument, withHenry Bacon serving as the project'sarchitect.[1] The design of the memorial would consist of a relief, sculpted by French, surrounded by a supporting structure designed by Bacon.[4] An April 1915 issue ofThe Monumental News stated that French's design for the memorial had been approved by the Municipal Art Commission,[5] while a November 1916 issue of the magazineStone reported that a model had been prepared to be cast, but that a lack ofmolding sand had caused the dedication of the monument to be put off until the following year. The article also mentioned that French had worked on the monument for about a year and a half at that time.[6] The bronze relief was cast by theGorham foundry, while granite for the surrounding structure was provided by the Presbrey-Coykendall Company, which also served as the project'sgeneral contractor.[7]
The memorial was dedicated on May 10, 1917.[1] Occurring during World War I, the memorial was unveiled byMarshal of FranceJoseph Joffre, with formerPrime Minister of FranceRené Viviani serving as theorator for the dedication ceremony.[8] They were there as members of the French War Commission.[3] On May 10, 2017, Anne-Claire Legedre, the consul-general of France in New York City, presided over centennial celebrations for the monument.[9]
The memorial consists of abronzerelief fitted into aStony Creek granite structure that acts as the base and frame for the relief. This frame is of theItalian Renaissance architecture. The relief depicts Lafayette facing forwards, with his left hand on his hip and his right hand holding a slendersword that has its tip touching the ground. Atricorne is held in his left arm, and he is wearing the uniform of amajor general. The horse is tended to by an African American groom wearing a military uniform, with acockade and feather in his hat and something such as a blanket or acloak draped across one of his shoulders. To the right is amagnolia tree, with apine branch on the ground.[4]
The relief measures approximately 10 feet (3.0 m) tall and 13 feet (4.0 m) wide, while the overall structure has a height of 19 feet (5.8 m), a width of 22 feet (6.7 m), and a depth of 9 feet (2.7 m).[10] It is located at the Ninth Street entrance to the park.[4]
The memorial bears the following inscriptions:[10]
THE MARQUIS DE LAFAYETTE [---] THIS MONUMENT WAS / ERECTED AND PRESENTED BY HENRY HARTEAU A DISTINGUISHED CITIZEN OF BROOKLYN TO BE AN / ENDURING TRIBUTE TO THE MEMORY OF ONE WHO AS / A FRIEND AND COMPANION OF THE IMMORTAL WASH INGTON FOUGHT TO ESTABLISH IN OUR COUNTRY / THOSE VITAL PRINCIPLES OF LIBERTY AND HUMAN / BROTHERHOOD WHICH HE AFTERWARD LABORED TO ESTABLISH IN HIS OWN
— Front
THIS MEMORIAL WAS UNVEILED AND DEDICATED BY / MARSHALL JOFFRE AND M. VIVANI OF THE FRENCH / WAR COMMISSION, MAY 10, 1917
— Rear
According to theNew York City Department of Parks and Recreation, there is some debate among scholars as to the identity of the figure alongside Lafayette in the painting that the memorial is based upon, with some positing that it isJames Armistead Lafayette, an enslavedAfrican American who served under Lafayette during theAmerican Revolutionary War. After the war, Lafayette helped him gain his freedom, leading to Armistead adopting the last name "Lafayette" as a sign of respect.[3] A 2016 article inIntelligencer claims definitively that the painting depicts Armistead,[2] while the parks department notes that no mention of Armistead is made by either Le Paon or French in written descriptions they made of their works and that evidence that the painting or memorial depict Armistead is "inconclusive".[3]
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