''Serenity'' is a public artwork by
Catalan
Catalan may refer to:
Catalonia
From, or related to Catalonia:
* Catalan language, a Romance language
* Catalans, an ethnic group formed by the people from, or with origins in, Northern or southern Catalonia
Places
* 13178 Catalan, asteroid #1 ...
artist
Josep Clarà i Ayats, (1878,
Olot
Olot () is the capital city of the ''comarca'' of Garrotxa, in the Province of Girona, Catalonia, Spain. The city is known for its natural landscape, including four volcanoes scattered around the city center. The municipality is part of the Zon ...
,
Girona
Girona (officially and in Catalan language, Catalan , Spanish: ''Gerona'' ) is a city in northern Catalonia, Spain, at the confluence of the Ter River, Ter, Onyar, Galligants, and Güell rivers. The city had an official population of 103,369 in ...
,
Spain
, image_flag = Bandera de España.svg
, image_coat = Escudo de España (mazonado).svg
, national_motto = ''Plus ultra'' (Latin)(English: "Further Beyond")
, national_anthem = (English: "Royal March")
, i ...
– 1958,
Barcelona
Barcelona ( , , ) is a city on the coast of northeastern Spain. It is the capital and largest city of the autonomous community of Catalonia, as well as the second most populous municipality of Spain. With a population of 1.6 million within ci ...
, Spain) located at
Meridian Hill Park
Meridian Hill Park, also known as Malcolm X Park, is a structured urban park located in the Washington, D.C., neighborhood of Columbia Heights, Washington, D.C., Columbia Heights; it also abuts the nearby neighborhood of Adams Morgan. The park wa ...
in
Washington, D.C.
)
, image_skyline =
, image_caption = Clockwise from top left: the Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial on the National Mall, United States Capitol, Logan Circle, Jefferson Memorial, White House, Adams Morgan, ...
,
United States
The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territorie ...
. ''Serenity'' was originally surveyed as part of the
Smithsonian's Save Outdoor Sculpture! survey in 1993.
Description
This large sculpture is of an
allegorical woman wearing long, flowing classical robes which are tied at her waist. She has long hair and stares intensely in front of her. "Serenity" sits on a rocky ledge with her arms casually resting on the rocks behind her. Her left foot rested on a broken sword.
The sculpture is signed on the proper left side: Jose Clara.
The front of the base is inscribed:
:SERENITY
:IN REMEMBRANCE OF WILLIAM HENRY SCHEVTZE
:LIEVTENANT COMMANDER VNITED STATES NAVY
:MDCCCLIII–MCMII
The name of William Henry Schuetze is spelled wrong on the monument per a government source at the time.
The statue is an outstanding example of the
avantgarde classical style, which became popular in Europe and the US around
1910
Events
January
* January 13 – The first public radio broadcast takes place; live performances of the operas '' Cavalleria rusticana'' and ''Pagliacci'' are sent out over the airwaves, from the Metropolitan Opera House in New York C ...
, following the work of
French
French (french: français(e), link=no) may refer to:
* Something of, from, or related to France
** French language, which originated in France, and its various dialects and accents
** French people, a nation and ethnic group identified with Franc ...
sculptor
Aristide Maillol (1861–1944). ''Serenity''
's classical features and its archaic volumes are characteristics of this style, which became particularly important in
Catalonia
Catalonia (; ca, Catalunya ; Aranese Occitan: ''Catalonha'' ; es, Cataluña ) is an autonomous community of Spain, designated as a ''nationality'' by its Statute of Autonomy.
Most of the territory (except the Val d'Aran) lies on the north ...
, where Clarà was born, through the
Noucentista movement, spanning from 1910 to
1936
Events
January–February
* January 20 – George V of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions and Emperor of India, dies at his Sandringham Estate. The Prince of Wales succeeds to the throne of the United Kingdom as King E ...
.
Background
''Serenity'' was bought by
Charles Deering in
Sitges
Sitges (, , ) is a town about 35 kilometres southwest of Barcelona, in Spain, renowned worldwide for its Film Festival, Carnival, and LGBT Culture. Located between the Garraf Massif and the Mediterranean Sea, it is known for its beaches, nightspot ...
, a town near
Barcelona
Barcelona ( , , ) is a city on the coast of northeastern Spain. It is the capital and largest city of the autonomous community of Catalonia, as well as the second most populous municipality of Spain. With a population of 1.6 million within ci ...
,
Spain
, image_flag = Bandera de España.svg
, image_coat = Escudo de España (mazonado).svg
, national_motto = ''Plus ultra'' (Latin)(English: "Further Beyond")
, national_anthem = (English: "Royal March")
, i ...
. Deering had a unique art collection that included many works by
Catalan
Catalan may refer to:
Catalonia
From, or related to Catalonia:
* Catalan language, a Romance language
* Catalans, an ethnic group formed by the people from, or with origins in, Northern or southern Catalonia
Places
* 13178 Catalan, asteroid #1 ...
artists. In
1916
Events
Below, the events of the First World War have the "WWI" prefix.
January
* January 1 – The British Royal Army Medical Corps carries out the first successful blood transfusion, using blood that had been stored and cooled.
* ...
he commissioned sculptor
Josep Clarà i Ayats (1878–1958) to sculpt a version of ''Serenity'' for the main patio of his villa in Sitges,
known a
Palau de Maricel However, later changes in the building forced Deering to change his mind so to locate the statue at
Meridian Hill Park
Meridian Hill Park, also known as Malcolm X Park, is a structured urban park located in the Washington, D.C., neighborhood of Columbia Heights, Washington, D.C., Columbia Heights; it also abuts the nearby neighborhood of Adams Morgan. The park wa ...
as a tribute to his friend and classmate from the
U.S. Naval Academy
The United States Naval Academy (US Naval Academy, USNA, or Navy) is a United States Service academies, federal service academy in Annapolis, Maryland. It was established on 10 October 1845 during the tenure of George Bancroft as Secretary of ...
– William Henry Scheutze (1853–1902).
The sculpture was dedicated on March 12, 1924.
[Statue Is a Curious Homage to Naval Officer, Answer Man Finds, by John Kelly, ''Washington Post Sunday'', March 22, 2009] Schuetze was a naval officer from the academy who graduated in 1873 and went on to serve as a navigator on the
U.S.S. Iowa during the
Spanish–American War
, partof = the Philippine Revolution, the decolonization of the Americas, and the Cuban War of Independence
, image = Collage infobox for Spanish-American War.jpg
, image_size = 300px
, caption = (clock ...
. He was active in the U.S. Naval White Squadron in Chicago.
Earlier in his naval career (1882-84), as mentioned in President
Chester A. Arthur
Chester Alan Arthur (October 5, 1829 – November 18, 1886) was an American lawyer and politician who served as the 21st president of the United States from 1881 to 1885. He previously served as the 20th vice president under President James A ...
's
second State of the Union address (also with Schuetze misspelled per that linked source), he was a lieutenant on missions in the aftermath of the disastrous
Jeannette expedition in the Arctic Ocean. Before his death in 1927, Schuetze became president of the
International Harvester Company
The International Harvester Company (often abbreviated by IHC, IH, or simply International ( colloq.)) was an American manufacturer of agricultural and construction equipment, automobiles, commercial trucks, lawn and garden products, household e ...
.
The sculpture is similar to the one located at the
Miramar Gardens in Montjuïc, Barcelona. Th
Museu de la Garrotxa d'Olotholds other versions of this work.
Condition
When the sculpture was installed at
Meridian Hill Park
Meridian Hill Park, also known as Malcolm X Park, is a structured urban park located in the Washington, D.C., neighborhood of Columbia Heights, Washington, D.C., Columbia Heights; it also abuts the nearby neighborhood of Adams Morgan. The park wa ...
in 1925, the public opposed it. A petition was created opposing its placement, citing that the subject's "thighs were too big." Community members took hammers to the sculpture, creating small craters, which remain today, on the woman's face.
In 1960 the piece was reported as having a missing nose.
[Clark, Elizabeth G. "Report of the Chronicler" Records of the Columbia Historical Society, Washington, D.C. Vol. 60/62. p. 381.] This sculpture was surveyed in 1993 for its condition and it was described as needing treatment.
By 2009, press reports indicate it was also missing her left hand and a big toe.
As of 2018, one of the sculpture's hands is missing.
Gallery
File:Serenity Clara Proper Right.jpg, Proper right
File:Serenity, Meridian Hill Park, 7-13-25 LCCN2016850796.jpg, Unknown praticien sculpting details of ''Serenity''.
File:Miramar- Serenidad, Josep Clarà.jpg, ''Serenity'' (''Serenitat /Serenidad'') by Josep Clarà i Ayats, in the Miramar Gardens of Montjuïc, Barcelona. Made in 1929 for the Barcelona International Exhibition.
File:Ramon Casas - MNAC- Josep Clarà- 027251-D 006400.jpg, Ramon Casas
Ramon Casas i Carbó (; 4 January 1866 – 29 February 1932) was a Catalan artist. Living through a turbulent time in the history of his native Barcelona, he was known as a portraitist, sketching and painting the intellectual, economic, and ...
, ''Portrait of Josep Clarà'', 1904–1905. Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya, Barcelona
Barcelona ( , , ) is a city on the coast of northeastern Spain. It is the capital and largest city of the autonomous community of Catalonia, as well as the second most populous municipality of Spain. With a population of 1.6 million within ci ...
.
References
{{Public art in Washington, D.C., state=collapsed
1925 establishments in Washington, D.C.
1925 sculptures
Allegorical sculptures in Washington, D.C.
Artworks in the collection of the National Park Service
Marble sculptures in Washington, D.C.
Meridian Hill/Malcolm X Park
Monuments and memorials in Washington, D.C.
National Park Service
Outdoor sculptures in Washington, D.C.
Spanish art
Sculptures of women in Washington, D.C.
Statues in Washington, D.C.