Children Playing On The General Lafayette Memorial
by Cora Wandel
Title
Children Playing On The General Lafayette Memorial
Artist
Cora Wandel
Medium
Photograph
Description
These two cherubs are playing on the base of the Major General Marquis Gilbert de Lafayette Memorial in Lafayette Square across the street from the White House in Washington, DC. Lafayette is above them, at the top of the memorial. Born in France in 1757, Lafayette was born into an aristocratic family and came to America to serve in the Revolutionary War. He became a major-general under George Washington in the Continental Army. Among his Revolutionary War accomplishments, he served and was wounded in the Battle of Brandywine, but despite his wounds he led the Continental Army to victory in that battle. Lafayette also led his men to an impressive victory in the Battle of Rhode Island. Even though Lafayette would become an American citizen, when he died in 1834 he was buried in his native homeland of France, under soil from Washington's grave at Mount Vernon.
The bronze statue of Lafayette, which is not visible in this photograph, and the clearly visible cherubs, along with other statues built on all four side of the base, were made by Jean Alexandre Joseph Falguiere in 1890, and has been on the southeast corner of Lafayette Square since 1891.
There is an inscription on the base of the memorial that reads: "To General Lafayette and his Compatriots, 1777 - 1783."
Uploaded
December 8th, 2016
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