Admiral David Glasgow Farragut 1879 - 1910

Curator: The lines on this man's face! There's an intensity etched in every groove. It conveys a stern and strong will, wouldn't you agree? Editor: Indeed. This striking sculpture is entitled "Admiral David Glasgow Farragut," crafted by Augustus Saint-Gaudens. While the precise date of its creation spans from 1879 to 1910, it is now housed here at The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. A bronze embodiment of naval prowess. Curator: Bronze is so fitting, lending a sense of enduring legacy. I can't help but focus on his eyes... shadowed, perhaps hinting at the burdens of command and of the heavy symbolism that the image bears for an entire nation? Editor: Absolutely. Saint-Gaudens, well-versed in the public hunger for heroes after the Civil War, uses a classical medium to present a distinctly American figure. Note, for example, how his gaze meets the viewer, unflinching, powerful and conveying respect for the viewer by conveying an honest image rather than empty heroics. He projects an image of resolution that suited the project of reconciliation. Curator: It seems almost to monumentalize the concept of duty, too. The naval cap, while realistic, serves as a classical laurel, no? A symbolic headdress of victory? Editor: An excellent observation! By framing Farragut with the tools of his trade and victory, Saint-Gaudens ensured his lasting impact within the narrative of American triumph. The sculptor captured both individual and the era through a tangible symbol. The symbolism has only accumulated over time. Curator: And hasn’t this image influenced our visual idea of the archetypal admiral or commander since? I find it captivating how deeply ingrained this portrait is. Editor: Undeniably. And the sculpture remains here, solidifying a place within the ever-evolving American visual memory.