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 Title:
Republic
Artist:
Daniel Chester French
Commissioned
by: Directors of the World's Columbian Exposition and
the B. F. Ferguson Monument Fund
Location:
1900 E. 63rd Street (In Jackson Park near Lake Shore Drive)
Medium:
Bronze gilded with Gold
Commentary:
This beautiful statue, shining with gold gilding, stands in Jackson
Park near the Lake. It is actually a 1/3 sized replica of the
giant which stood in the Grand Basin of the Great World's Fair
of 1893.
The figure represents the American republic as a woman in the
pose of a Greek goddess, crowned with laurel leaves and holding
in her right hand a globe with the American eagle on top. In her
left is a liberty pole with laurel wreath covering a plaque at
the top.
The original statue was not made to last beyond the end of the
Fair, but a model remained and became the basis of the Republic
we see. Its creator, Daniel Chester French, was one of the most
notable figures of his time. Our community is fortunate to have
another Daniel Chester French work as well: the figure of George
Washington which stands at the southern entrance to Washington
Park. If you have ever visited Washington D.C., you probably have
seen the Lincoln Memorial. The seated figure of Lincoln within
it is also by Daniel Chester French.
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