James A. Garfield

\

 This statue of James Garfield by John Quincy Adams Ward is part of the Garfield Monument on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, dedicated on May 18, 1887.

The Smithsonian gives this description of the statue of Garfield.

"The figure of Garfield stands at the top of a tall multi-tiered base installed on a road on the grounds of the U. S. Capitol. He is dressed in a suit and overcoat. His hair is long and wavy, and he has a beard and moustache. To his proper right is a short draped column with an open book on top. Garfield's proper right hand rests on top of the open book. His proper left arm is bent up to his chest and in his proper left hand he holds a copy of his inaugural address inscribed with the words 'Law, Justice, Prosperity.' The elaborate Baroque-styled base is adorned with three seated allegorical figures of Roman males which represent Garfield's three successful careers as a scholar, soldier, and statesman."

The three allegorical figures are described this way:

"One figure, the scholar, is a young man wearing a short tunic with a cape draped over his proper left shoulder. He is barefoot and reads from an unscrolled paper located on his proper left side."

"The second figure, the soldier, is an older, bearded figure wearing long boots, a fur tunic, and a fur hat. This figure pulls a sword out with his proper right hand as he looks over his proper right shoulder."

"The third figure, the statesman, is dressed in a long robe and sandals. He supports a tablet with his proper right hand. The words 'Law Justice Prosperity' appear on the tablet."

The inscription reads:

JAMES. A. GARFIELD
1831-1881

MAJOR-GENERAL U-S-V,
MEMBER OF CONGRESS,
SENATOR,
AND
PRESIDENT
OF THE
UNITED
STATES
OF
AMERICA

ERECTED BY HIS COMRADES
OF THE
SOCIETY OF THE ARMY
OF THE
CUMBERLAND
MAY 18, 1887 

 

Dell Upton photographed John Quincy Adams Ward's signature on Garfield's statue.

J.Q.A. Ward Sculp.