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Catalog Data

Architect:
Magonigle, Harold Van Buren 1867-1935  Search this
Wight, William Drewin  Search this
Sculptor:
Amateis, Edmond 1897-1981  Search this
Aitken, Robert 1878-1949  Search this
Donnelly, John 1867-1947  Search this
Hancock, Walker 1901-1998  Search this
Carver:
Lavaggi, Ugo  Search this
Landscape architect:
Kessler, George E.  Search this
Olmsted, Frederick Law Jr. 1870-1959  Search this
Architectural firm:
Wight & Wight  Search this
Medium:
Sphinx figures: limestone; Frieze: stone
Type:
Sculptures-Relief
Sculptures-Outdoor Sculpture
Sculptures
Owner/Location:
Administered by City of Kansas City, Missouri Board of Parks and Recreation Commissioners 4600 East 63rd Street Kansas City Missouri 64130
Located Penn Valley Park Near Pershing Road & Main Street Kansas City Missouri
Date:
Dedicated Nov. 1921. Sphinx figures: dedicated Nov. 1926. Frieze: 1933-1934. Frieze dedicated May 30, 1935
Notes:
Save Outdoor Sculpture, Missouri, Kansas City survey, 1994.
Index of American Sculpture, University of Delaware, 1985.
Board of Parks & Recreation Commissioners, Kansas City, MO, "Historic & Dedicatory Monuments of Kansas City," 1987, pg. 29-33.
National Park Service, American Monuments and Outdoor Sculpture Database, MO0017, 1989.
Monumental News, Sept. 1921; Jan. 1922.
SOS Assessment Award, 1997.
Kvaran, Einar, 2004.
Image on file.
Monumental News, Jan., 1922, pp. 33-34.
(On frieze:) Edmond Amateis, Sculptor (By feet of bull on right portion of frieze:) Ugo Lavaggi, Carver MCMXXXV signed
The information provided about this artwork was compiled as part of the Smithsonian American Art Museum's Inventories of American Painting and Sculpture database, designed to provide descriptive and location information on artworks by American artists in public and private collections worldwide.
Summary:
Consists of a tower adorned with figures representing Courage, Honor, Patriotism, and Sacrifice; a terrace with two large sphinx-like figures --Memory (facing east) and Future (facing west) --who conceal their faces with their wings; two buildings containing war relics and murals; a retaining wall with bronze portrait reliefs of the five allied commanders of World War I (Baron Jacques of Belgium, Armando Diaz of Italy, Ferdinand Foch of France, John J. Pershing of U.S. and Lord Earl Beatty of Great Britain); and the Great Frieze on the north terrace wall. The Great Frieze depicts the sufferings of War and the blessings of Peace. It shows the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, mourners, and agricultural workers bringing in the harvest. At each end of the frieze are the Stars and Stripes on which is carved the "clinging ivy of remembrance" and a great sword as a symbol of might to defend an orderly and just government.
Topic:
History--United States--World War I  Search this
Mythology--Egyptian--Sphinx  Search this
Occupation--Farm--Harvesting  Search this
Allegory--Other--Memory  Search this
Allegory--Time--Future  Search this
Allegory--Civic--Patriotism  Search this
Allegory--Civic--Peace  Search this
Allegory--Civic--War  Search this
Allegory--Quality--Harmony  Search this
Religion--New Testament--Last Judgement  Search this
State of Being--Emotion--Sorrow  Search this
Animal--Horse  Search this
Control number:
IAS 76000885
Data Source:
Art Inventories Catalog, Smithsonian American Art Museums
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:siris_ari_1519