Liberty Memorial, (sculpture)

Object Details

Notes
Save Outdoor Sculpture, Missouri, Kansas City survey, 1994.
Index of American Sculpture, University of Delaware, 1985.
Board of Parks & Recreation Commissioners, Kansas City, MO, "Historic & Dedicatory Monuments of Kansas City," 1987, pg. 29-33.
National Park Service, American Monuments and Outdoor Sculpture Database, MO0017, 1989.
Monumental News, Sept. 1921; Jan. 1922.
SOS Assessment Award, 1997.
Kvaran, Einar, 2004.
Image on file.
Monumental News, Jan., 1922, pp. 33-34.
(On frieze:) Edmond Amateis, Sculptor (By feet of bull on right portion of frieze:) Ugo Lavaggi, Carver MCMXXXV signed
The information provided about this artwork was compiled as part of the Smithsonian American Art Museum's Inventories of American Painting and Sculpture database, designed to provide descriptive and location information on artworks by American artists in public and private collections worldwide.
Summary
Consists of a tower adorned with figures representing Courage, Honor, Patriotism, and Sacrifice; a terrace with two large sphinx-like figures --Memory (facing east) and Future (facing west) --who conceal their faces with their wings; two buildings containing war relics and murals; a retaining wall with bronze portrait reliefs of the five allied commanders of World War I (Baron Jacques of Belgium, Armando Diaz of Italy, Ferdinand Foch of France, John J. Pershing of U.S. and Lord Earl Beatty of Great Britain); and the Great Frieze on the north terrace wall. The Great Frieze depicts the sufferings of War and the blessings of Peace. It shows the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, mourners, and agricultural workers bringing in the harvest. At each end of the frieze are the Stars and Stripes on which is carved the "clinging ivy of remembrance" and a great sword as a symbol of might to defend an orderly and just government.
Data Source
Art Inventories Catalog, Smithsonian American Art Museums
Date
Dedicated Nov. 1921. Sphinx figures: dedicated Nov. 1926. Frieze: 1933-1934. Frieze dedicated May 30, 1935
Control number
IAS 76000885
architect
Magonigle, Harold Van Buren 1867-1935
Wight, William Drewin
sculptor
Amateis, Edmond 1897-1981
Aitken, Robert 1878-1949
Donnelly, John 1867-1947
Hancock, Walker 1901-1998
carver
Lavaggi, Ugo
landscape architect
Kessler, George E.
Olmsted, Frederick Law Jr. 1870-1959
architectural firm
Wight & Wight
Type
Sculptures-Relief
Sculptures-Outdoor Sculpture
Sculptures
Medium
Sphinx figures: limestone; Frieze: stone
Owner/Location
Administered by City of Kansas City, Missouri Board of Parks and Recreation Commissioners 4600 East 63rd Street Kansas City Missouri 64130
Located Penn Valley Park Near Pershing Road & Main Street Kansas City Missouri
Topic
History--United States--World War I
Mythology--Egyptian--Sphinx
Occupation--Farm--Harvesting
Allegory--Other--Memory
Allegory--Time--Future
Allegory--Civic--Patriotism
Allegory--Civic--Peace
Allegory--Civic--War
Allegory--Quality--Harmony
Religion--New Testament--Last Judgement
State of Being--Emotion--Sorrow
Animal--Horse
Record ID
siris_ari_1519
Usage
Usage conditions apply