Equestrian statue of Simón Bolívar (Washington, D.C.)
Equestrian statue of Simón Bolívar by Felix de Weldon in Washington, D.C.
An equestrian statue of Simón Bolívar, the Venezuelan military and political leader, stands in Washington, D.C., near the United States Department of Interior and the Pan American Union Building. Created by American artist Felix de Weldon, the sculpture was surveyed as part of the Smithsonian Institution's Save Outdoor Sculpture! survey in 1993.
Quick Facts
- Artist
- Felix de Weldon
- Height
- 324
- Length imperial
- 208
- City
- Washington, D.C.
- Owner
- National Park Service
Facts from the source article.
Did You Know?
- The sculpture was cast in New York and disassembled into parts—including separating the head, neck, and rider—to be transported by highway under overpasses.
- The Venezuelan government donated the sculpture and paid for its installation.
- Permission for the piece to be installed on public property was granted on June 29, 1955.
Description
The statue depicts Bolívar riding his horse with his proper right arm raised overhead, holding a sword pointed upward. He wears a detailed military uniform that includes the gold medal once owned by George Washington. The sculpture rests on a granite or marble base measuring 142 by 72 by 184 inches and weighing eight tons. The sculpture is signed by Felix W. de Weldon and the architectural firm Faulkner, Kingsbury & Stenhouse. The front of the base bears Bolívar's name, title, and birth and death dates. The east side records that the work was given by the Republic of Venezuela to the United States of America, and the west side lists the nations he liberated: Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, and Panama.
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