. An account of the Smithsonian Institution, its founder, building, operations, Smithsonian Institution. 38 THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION. and spires spoke of religion to the heart. It was at once proposed, in all parts of the country, by Horticultural and other Societies, that some suitable monu- ment should be erected to the memory of Mr. Downing, and in 1852, the American Pomological Society ap- pointed a committee to superintend this work. The design adopted by the com- mittee was furnished by Calvert Vaux, of Newburgb, N. Y., the late partner of Mr. Downing, and the work executed by R
. An account of the Smithsonian Institution, its founder, building, operations, Smithsonian Institution. 38 THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION. and spires spoke of religion to the heart. It was at once proposed, in all parts of the country, by Horticultural and other Societies, that some suitable monu- ment should be erected to the memory of Mr. Downing, and in 1852, the American Pomological Society ap- pointed a committee to superintend this work. The design adopted by the com- mittee was furnished by Calvert Vaux, of Newburgb, N. Y., the late partner of Mr. Downing, and the work executed by Robert Launitz, an eminent sculptor of New York. The monument was erected in the grounds of the Smithson- ian Institution, at Washington, and it is worthy of remark, that Mr. Downing was engaged in laying out and beautify ing these grounds at the time of his death. The committee made their final report at the Pomological meeting in Sepr tember, 1856. The funds were supplied by friends of Mr. Downing, in Philadel- phia, Newburgh, Boston, Washington, Louisville, BuiFalo, and Rochester. The principal design of the monument consists in a large vase resting on a ped- estal, the whole executed of the finest Italian marble. The pattern of the vase is taken from an antique of the chastest school. The vase is four feet in height, downing montimert. and measures three feet in diameter on its upper rim. The body is ornamented with rich arabesque; acanthus leaves surround the lower part. The handles rest on heads of satyrs, (the tutelar gods of groves and woods.) . The pedestal, resting on a carved base, and being surmounted with a carved cornice, has on each side deep panels, relieved by carved mouldings. Each of the panels contains an inscription ; that upon the Northern Front reads as follows : THIS VASE Was erected by Lis Friends IX MEMORY OF ANDREW JACKSON , Who died July 28, 1852. aged 37 He was born, and lived, And died upon the Hudson Please note that these i
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