WASHINGTON , United States — A bronze cast of Augustus Saint-Gaudens' Memorial to Robert Gould Shaw and the Massachusetts Fifty-Fourth Regiment on display at the National Gallery of Art. This powerful sculpture depicts Colonel Shaw leading the first African American regiment in the Union Army, commemorating their march down Beacon Street in Boston on May 28, 1863.
Photograph by David Coleman. The National Gallery of Art in Washington houses a bronze cast of Augustus Saint-Gaudens' renowned Memorial to Robert Gould Shaw and the Massachusetts Fifty-Fourth Regiment. Originally unveiled in Boston in 1897, this sculpture is celebrated as the first civic monument to honor African American soldiers' heroism. The relief depicts Colonel Robert Gould Shaw on horseback, leading members of the 54th Regiment Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry. Saint-Gaudens' work captures the determination and courage of these soldiers as they marched to fight in the Civil War, a pivotal moment in the struggle for equality and freedom. This sculpture is notable for its detailed realism and emotional depth, characteristics that made Saint-Gaudens one of America's foremost sculptors. The artist's attention to individual features and expressions of the soldiers humanizes them, countering prevalent stereotypes of the time. The presence of this cast in the National Gallery of Art underscores the sculpture's significance in American art and history. It serves as a powerful reminder of the contributions of African American soldiers to the Union cause and the ongoing struggle for civil rights in America.
Size: 6871px × 4581px
Location: National Gallery of Art, Washington DC, District of Columbia, United States
Photo credit: © David Coleman | Have Camera Will Travel / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
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