Photograph

Object/Artifact

-

Historic Hudson Valley

Name/Title

Photograph

Entry/Object ID

SS.2016.2

Description

Sepia tone image of man in front of sculpture; man wears wool suit with watch chain, hankerchief, sketchbook with pencil in various pockets and stands, right hand on hip, left wrist resting on pedestal; behind him, white wall structure; over his right shoulder, bronze bas relief of man in three-quarter profile in exotic dress with conical hat, long robe, breastplate and sword, facing center; in center, three-dimensional bust of man with tousled hair, cravat and wide, shawl-lapel jacket, on plinth beaing bronze bas relief of laurel wreath and inset with "WASHINGTON/IRVING/1783 1859"; at right side of image, bronze bas relief of bearded man in tattered clothing and boots, rifle at side, raised hand as if to call, facing center; small inset tag at bottom: "Rip Van Winkle"; on reverse, multiple labels; label typed: "MEMORIAL TO AMERICA'S FAMOUS AUTHOR IS COMPLETED--WILL BE ENSHRINED IN HIS OLD HOMESTEAD. A memorial to Washington Irving, which will be placed in his old homestead at Irvington-on-Hudson, has just been completed by Daniel Chester French and has been shown in a private exhibition to an admiring few. PHOTO SHOWS:--The sculptor, DANIEL CHESTER FRENCH with the completed memorial to Washington Irving, in the sculptors studio, N.Y. It comprises a bust of Irving on a pedestal, flanked by two life-sized figures, symbolic of two distinct civilizations represented in his writings. One is the princely figure of Boaddil, the last king of Granada, dressed in rich armor and precious silks; the other being the bedraggled figure of his famous Rip Van Winkle. (A-BB-BF)"; stamped: "CULVER PICTURES, INC./ 150 WEST 22nd STREET #300/NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10011-2421/(212) 646-1672"; label printed: "CULVER PICTURES, INC./50 WEST 22nd STREET #300/NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10011-2421/(212) 646-1672/ This picture is loaned for one-time reproduction only, subject to terms and conditions on delivery memo. No model release unless specified -many not be used for advertising without written permission. Use barcode number in all correspondence. Original must be returned within 30 days. Obligatory Credit Line: CULVER PICTURES"; three different barcode labels; handwritten in pencil: "FRENCH" and "12"; stamped: "6150."

Made/Created

Artist Information

Artist

Unknown

Attribution

Photographer

Manufacturer

Culver Pictures

Date made

1926 - 1927

Inscription/Signature/Marks

Type

Inscription

Transcription

(See Description)

Dimensions

Dimension Description

Overall

Height

6 in

Width

8 in

Dimension Notes

Display Dimensions: 6 x 8 in. (15.2 x 20.3 cm)

Material

Emulsion on paper

Condition

Notes

Remarks: Deep crease to lower left corner; small tear at upper right corner; loss of corner tip at upper left corner; numerous non-archival labels and tape adhered to reverse of image.

Relationships

Related Person or Organization

Person or Organization

Daniel Chester French

Notes

Subject

Person or Organization

Culver Pictures

Notes

Former owner

Person or Organization

Washington Irving (1783-1859)

Notes

Subject

General Notes

Note Type

Curatorial Remarks

Note

Purchased online in 2016; INVESTIGATE RIGHTS BEFORE USING. The Daniel Chester French Irving memorial was dedicated June 27, 1927, the date of this photo is unknown, but predates the installation. The background in this image is not the pink granite of the final piece, but appears to be wooded planks painted white. From the Irvington Historical Society website: "Unveiled on June 27, 1927, the Washington Irving Memorial at the corner of Broadway and West Sunnyside Lane came to reality after two decades of effort led by Irvington resident Jennie Prince Black to honor the village namesake. Daniel Chester French, the leading sculptor in America and designer of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C., crafted the bust of Irving and two characters from his novels set in a backdrop of pink Vermont granite. Flanking Irving's left is Rip Van Winkle, the famous denizen of the Catskills who awoke after a twenty-year slumber, and to Irving's right, the lesser known Boabdil, a minor character in Irving's The Alhambra, but chosen perhaps for offering a stark contrast in dress to old Rip." [Jessa J. Krick, 7/19/2016].

Note Type

StorageNote

Note

Home Location: Historic Hudson Valley, Administrative Office, Collection Manager's Office

Note Type

Department

Note

Curatorial