Public Art in Chicago: Commemorative Figural Sculptures of Lincoln Park

When it comes to commemorative sculptures, figural has it's place firmly established. No amount of abstraction, symbolism or minimalism can bring out the beauty and accuracy of a detailed figural sculpture. It can capture essence of one's character in one simple pose and immortalize it for ages to come! Personally, I love figural sculptures!!!

While talking about figural, Lincoln Park has a fair share of these beautiful bronzes. The most famous is the "Abraham Lincoln Monument" by Augustus Saint-Gaudens, which has been designated the status of a Chicago Landmark. But there are many others which are absolutely beautiful. My personal favorite is the Shakespeare Monument.

Abraham Lincoln Monument

Abraham Lincoln Monument

by Augustus Saint-Gaudens [sculptor], Stanford White [architect]
Year Completed: 1887
Date Designated a Chicago Landmark: December 12, 2001

Address: Lincoln Park at North Dearborn Parkway

For more click here...

Green Vardiman Black - by Frederick Cleveland Hibbard

Donated by the National Dental Association,

in appreciation for Black's services to the profession.

Location: Lincoln Park,north of North Ave. at Astor Street.

For more, click here...

Ulysses S. Grant Monument

Ulysses S. Grant Memorial - by Louis Rebisso

Installed: 1891
Location: It's in the east end of the Lincoln Park Zoo overlooking the Cannon Drive.

Interestingly Grant statue is located in the heart of Lincoln Park, whereas Lincoln statue is in the heart of Grant Park. Was there a mistaken switch. Apparently NOT

The city of Chicago's website explains it as thus .. It's a Chicago curiosity, but can easily be explained by knowing the history of Chicago's prominent lakefront parks. Lincoln Park was Chicago's first park, well established at the time of Grant's death. The mud-covered remains of the Great Chicago Fire would be developed as a series of formal gardens after the turn of the century and named for Grant, another honor for this great Civil War hero.

For more, click here...

William Shakespeare Monument

William Shakespeare - by William Ordway Partridge

Installed: 1894
Location: Lincoln Park: Grandmother's Garden..

Perhaps my favorite figural! The details are amazing. The cloths, the shoes, the posture. it's on beautiful sculpture!!! The base is inscribed Shakespeare's words from Hamlet, What a piece of work is man! How noble in reason! How infinite in faculty! On the opposite side is Samuel T. Coleridge's words.. He was not for an age but for all time, our myriad- minded Shakespeare....

For more, click here...