Students will analyze the sculpture "America," part of the "Four Continents" series by Daniel Chester French located at the entrance of the Alexander Hamilton U.S. Custom House in New York City, NY.
Suggested Teaching Instructions
This activity can be used as an introduction to symbols of America and for use when studying historical monuments and sculptures. For grades 4-8. Approximate time needed is 30 minutes.
Ask students to define the term
sculpture. After discussing some definitions, ask students to describe what kinds of sculptures exist and why they are created. List the specific types or examples of sculptures that students provide. Ask students if they have heard of the term "allegorical sculpture." Tell them that allegorical statues are sculpture that personify abstract ideas or concepts. Provide examples like the Statue of Liberty or Lady Justice as examples of allegorical sculptures.
Inform students that they will be looking at another example of an allegorical sculpture. Present the activity to the entire class. Students should spend a minute or two looking at the photograph unassisted. Ask students to describe the sculpture and try to determine what the sculpture depicts.
Then, individually or in small groups, students should proceed to answer the questions that follow – these will guide them through the process of document (artwork) analysis:
- Meet the artwork.
- Observe its parts.
- Try to make sense of it.
- Use it as historical evidence.
If necessary, check in with your students at each step in the process and
model analysis if required.
As a class, discuss their findings. Based on their analysis, ask them to describe what the sculpture depicts. Then ask students to provide evidence from their analysis to support their interpretation. Ask students: I
f you could give a title to the artwork, what would it be? Why?
Direct students' attention to the conclusion questions under "When You're Done." Click "View Entire Document" to see other angles and the full "Four Continents" series. Discuss the name given to the sculpture and the series; give time for students to make connections between their observations and the titles.
- How does that name impact your interpretation of the sculpture? What details evident in the sculpture support the title "America?"
- What similarities and differences do you notice between these four sculptures?
If desired, share the following historical information about the sculpture and the series.
Cass Gilbert, the architect of the Alexander Hamilton U.S. Custom House, had the power to help design and choose the sculptural decoration. In his original design, he had planned four monumental seated figures, set high on pedestals facing Bowling Green park. Gilbert asked Daniel Chester French, one of the leading Beaux-Arts sculptors at the time, to contribute sculpture.
Daniel Chester French worked for several years developing the statues. Starting with small 7-inch sketches and working his way up to half-scale models, he sent photographs to Cass Gilbert and the Supervising Architect of the Treasury Department John Knox for approval. The final sculptures were executed using Tennessee marble at the Piccirilli Brothers carving studio over several months and then assembled in place in early 1907.
In each statue of the Four Continents, the main figure is an idealized, seated young woman, whose features are typical of a given national group, race, or an amalgam of the continent. Each is surrounded by symbolic representations, some stereotypical of the time. French’s Four Continents portray the politics, religions, and culture of the given continent. Europe and America are portrayed as active, capable, and intelligent. The figure of Asia is passive and withdrawn, and that of Africa somnolent and untried.
