Edmund Burke (Thomas)


Edmund Burke is a bronze full length statue of Irish statesman, author, orator, political theorist and philosopher Edmund Burke by British artist James Havard Thomas. The original is in Bristol, England, with a second cast on Massachusetts Avenue at 11th and "L" Streets, NW, in Washington, D.C., United States.

Description

The full length sculpture of Burke depicts him stepping forward with his right leg. He is waving his right hand, and in his left hand he holds a three-cornered hat at his side. He wears a long jacket, a vest, and breeches. His hair curls up just above his ears and is parted down the middle.

About the Washington DC statue

The sculpture sits upon a rectangular granite base. The sculpture is signed: I. HAVARD THOMAS FECIT MDCCCXCIV CAST Á CIRE PERDVE H.H. MARTYN & Co. Ltd. Cheltenham 1922.
The front side of the base is inscribed with:

BVRKE

1729–1797

"MAGNANIMITY

IN POLITICS IS

NOT SELDOM THE

TRVEST WISDOM"

The west side of the base is inscribed with:

THIS STATVE

A COPY OF THE WORK

OF HAVARD THOMAS IN

THE CITY OF BRISTOL

ENGLAND WAS PRESENT-

ED THROVGH THE SVL-

GRAVE INSTITVTION TO

THE PEOPLE OF AMERICA

BY SIR CHARLES CHEERS

WAKEFIELD BARONET

FORMERLY LORD MAYOR

OF LONDON

ERECTED A.D. 1922
The Washington, D.C., sculpture is a cast of the original which is on display in Bristol, England. Cast by H.H. Martyn & Company, the sculpture was presented to the United States by Sir Charles Cheers Wakefield, former Lord Mayor of London. It was dedicated on October 12, 1922.
In September 1922, Frederick D. Owen built a temporary base for the sculpture, which was moved during courthouse renovations in 1922–1923. The permanent base, built in June 1923, was built by Horace W. Peaslee, with stonework by New England Granite Works.
As part of American Revolution Statuary in Washington, D.C. the statue has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places since July 1978.
Edmund Burke was surveyed by the Smithsonian's Save Outdoor Sculpture! survey in May 1993 for its condition and was described as "well maintained."

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