''Socrates'' is an

outdoor sculpture Sculpture is the branch of the visual arts that operates in three dimensions. Sculpture is the three-dimensional art work which is physically presented in the dimensions of height, width and depth. It is one of the plastic arts. Durable s ...

by artist W. V. Casey created c. 1950. The work is on the grounds of Butler University in

Indianapolis, Indiana Indianapolis (), colloquially known as Indy, is the state capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Indiana and the seat of Marion County. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the consolidated population of Indianapolis and Mari ...

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 ...

. The sculpture depicts the Greek Athenian philosopher

Socrates Socrates (; ; –399 BC) was a Greek philosopher from Athens who is credited as the founder of Western philosophy and among the first moral philosophers of the ethical tradition of thought. An enigmatic figure, Socrates authored no te ...

. In 1993 the sculpture was examined by the Save Outdoor Sculpture! program produced by the

Smithsonian Institution The Smithsonian Institution ( ), or simply the Smithsonian, is a group of museums and education and research centers, the largest such complex in the world, created by the U.S. government "for the increase and diffusion of knowledge". Founded ...

Description

A bronze sculpture placed on a limestone tablet (104 x 48 x 10 in.), ''Socrates'' is a portrait mask of the Greek Athenian philosopher Socrates. He is depicted as being bald and with a beard. To the lower left of the beard is engraved: W.V. CASEY and below the bronze bust on the tablet is inscribed: :SOCRATES :UNTIL PHILOSOPHERS ARE KINGS, OR THE :KINGS AND PRINCES OF THIS WORLD HAVE :THE SPIRIT AND POWER OF PHILOSOPHY... :THEN ONLY WILL THIS OUR STATE HAVE A :POSSIBILITY OF LIFE AND BEHOLD THE :LIGHT OF DAY. The piece is installed as part of "Philosopher's Bench" at Butler University's Holcomb Gardens. The tablet is placed in the center of a small landscaped area with and has flanked by two benches which feature quotes by Socrates,

Thomas Jefferson Thomas Jefferson (April 13, 1743 – July 4, 1826) was an American statesman, diplomat, lawyer, architect, philosopher, and Founding Fathers of the United States, Founding Father who served as the third president of the United States from 18 ...

Jesus Christ Jesus, likely from he, יֵשׁוּעַ, translit=Yēšūaʿ, label=Hebrew/Aramaic ( AD 30 or 33), also referred to as Jesus Christ or Jesus of Nazareth (among other names and titles), was a first-century Jewish preacher and religious ...

Jean-Jacques Rousseau Jean-Jacques Rousseau (, ; 28 June 1712 – 2 July 1778) was a Genevan philosopher, writer, and composer. His political philosophy influenced the progress of the Age of Enlightenment throughout Europe, as well as aspects of the French Revolu ...

and

Mohandas Gandhi Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi (; ; 2 October 1869 – 30 January 1948), popularly known as Mahatma Gandhi, was an Indian lawyer, anti-colonial nationalist Quote: "... marks Gandhi as a hybrid cosmopolitan figure who transformed ... anti- ...

Creation

The work was created by W. V. Casey and dedicated circa 1950.

Condition

In 1993 the piece was surveyed as part of the

's Save Outdoor Sculpture! survey. At the time of survey, the piece was described as needing treatment.

References

{{Socrates navbox 1950 sculptures Bronze sculptures in Indiana Butler University Cultural depictions of Socrates Outdoor sculptures in Indianapolis Statues of writers