''Walt Whitman'' is a statue by

Jo Davidson Jo Davidson (March 30, 1883 – January 2, 1952) was an American sculptor. Although he specialized in realistic, intense portrait busts, Davidson did not require his subjects to formally pose for him; rather, he observed and spoke with them. H ...

of which there are several castings. Davidson began working on a depiction of

Walt Whitman Walter Whitman (; May 31, 1819 – March 26, 1892) was an American poet, essayist and journalist. A humanist, he was a part of the transition between transcendentalism and realism, incorporating both views in his works. Whitman is among t ...

after entering a competition for one in 1925. Although that statue was never realized, Davidson continued to refine what he had started. When working on the statue Davidson first made a life-sized clay nude, then had a special armature created that allowed him to independently move the arms and legs, allowing him to get the exact movement that he was seeking. Davidson stated, "Nothing in my statue of Walt Whitman could be static and finally, I got the rhythm I was after." The statue was first exhibited at the New York Worlds Fair in 1939. Then, also in 1939

Averell Harriman William Averell Harriman (November 15, 1891July 26, 1986), better known as Averell Harriman, was an American Democratic politician, businessman, and diplomat. The son of railroad baron E. H. Harriman, he served as Secretary of Commerce un ...

(whom Davidson had already done a bust of) suggested to Davidson that the work be placed in the

Bear Mountain State Park Bear Mountain State Park is a state park located on the west bank of the Hudson River in Rockland and Orange counties, New York. The park offers biking, hiking, boating, picnicking, swimming, cross-country skiing, cross-country running, sledd ...

. Davidson inspected the site, found it acceptable and the statue was placed there. At the statue’s unveiling New York Park Commissioner

Robert Moses Robert Moses (December 18, 1888 – July 29, 1981) was an American urban planner and public official who worked in the New York metropolitan area during the early to mid 20th century. Despite never being elected to any office, Moses is regarded ...

quipped, "I am not sure if this is a statue of Walt Whitman by Jo Davidson or a statue of Jo Davidson by Walt Whitman." Walt Whitman Monument

Another casting of the statue was done in 1957, purchased by the

Fairmount Park Art Association Established in 1872 in Philadelphia, the Association for Public Art (formerly Fairmount Park Art Association) is the United States' first private, nonprofit public art organization dedicated to integrating public art and urban planning. The Assoc ...

and placed at the intersection of Broad Street and Packer Avenue, near the approach to the

Walt Whitman Bridge The Walt Whitman Bridge is a single-level suspension bridge spanning the Delaware River from Philadelphia in the west to Gloucester City in Camden County, New Jersey in the east. The bridge is named after the poet Walt Whitman, who resided i ...

In popular culture

* Poet

Louis Simpson Louis Aston Marantz Simpson (March 27, 1923 – September 14, 2012) was an American poet born in Jamaica. He won the 1964 Pulitzer Prize for Poetry for his work ''At the End of the Open Road''. Life and career Simpson was born in Jamaica ...

published a poem entitled “Walt Whitman at Bear Mountain in which he announces, “Even the bronze looks alive”. * The work can be observed in the upper right hand of the

70 Sculptors ''70 Sculptors'' is a photograph taken by Life Magazine, ''Life'' photographer Herbert Gehr on May 14, 1949. The picture was published by ''LIFE'' in their June 20, 1949, edition, covering most of pages 112 and 113. That the picture used most o ...

photograph taken at the

3rd Sculpture International 3rd Sculpture International was a 1949 exhibition of contemporary sculpture held inside and outside the Philadelphia Museum of Art, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. It featured works by 250 sculptors from around the world, and ran from May 15 ...

exhibition in Philadelphia in 1949. Davidson can be found in the picture seated in the front row, second from the right.

References

Bibliography

* * {{coord, 39.9118, -75.172, type:landmark_globe:earth_region:US-PA, display=title 1939 sculptures 1957 sculptures Bronze sculptures in Pennsylvania Landmarks in Philadelphia Monuments and memorials in Philadelphia Outdoor sculptures in Philadelphia Sculptures of men in Pennsylvania Statues in Pennsylvania Sculptures of men in New York (state) Statues of writers

Davidson Davidson may refer to: * Davidson (name) * Clan Davidson, a Highland Scottish clan * Davidson Media Group * Davidson Seamount, undersea mountain southwest of Monterey, California, USA * Tyler Davidson Fountain, monument in Cincinnati, Ohio, USA * ...

In popular culture

See also

References

Bibliography