19th Century Neoclassic Plymouth Forefathers Monument Sculpture

19th Century Neoclassic Plymouth Forefathers

Monument Sculpture

In the early 1820's the original marble National

Monument to the Forefathers at Plymouth was

commissioned, and the cornerstone was laid in 1850.

It was designed by Boston architect Hammatt Billings,

with his brother Joseph and others taking over after his

death in 1874. Made entirely of granite, the monument

was completed in 1888. To raise money for its

completion, replica spelter-metal statuettes like this one

were made and sold. Made from cast iron spelter-metal

and weighing in at just over 20 pounds.

Depicting the figure of "Faith" standing on an octagonal

pedestal holding a bible in her left hand, her right arm

raised towards the sky with her index finger pointing

upward. Four buttresses project from the four sides, with

figures representing "Freedom", "Morality", "Law" and

"Education" seated on each of the four buttresses.

Beneath each figure is a relief panel depicting a scene

from Pilgrim history. Two faces on the pedestal list

"Signers of the Social Compact Nov. 21st 1620". One

face lists "Female Passengers of the Mayflower". Finally

it is also marked "Patd....1867".

Measures approximately 22" tall by 11" wide.