Wisconsin (statue)

Wisconsin
Artist	Daniel Chester French
Year	1913-14
Dimensions	470 cm (185 in)
Location	Madison, Wisconsin
Coordinates	43°4′28″N 89°23′5″W

Wisconsin is a statue on top of the Wisconsin Capitol Building created by Daniel Chester French. The statue is the highest point in Madison, on top of the tallest building in Madison.

History

The Wisconsin statue on the dome was sculpted during 1913–1914 by Daniel Chester French of New York City. His model was Audrey Munson.

The statue is named Wisconsin, though it is often misidentified as Forward, another statue depicting a feminine personification of the state of Wisconsin which had a replica placed at the top of State Street until its’ destruction in 2020. The statue was sculpted by Daniel Chester French, who also created the Abraham Lincoln statue for the Lincoln Memorial. Wisconsin looks toward Lake Monona with her right hand outstretched, while her left hand cradles a globe with an eagle perched on it. On top of her helmet are clusters of grapes and the state animal, the badger. French sculpted the 15 foot, five inch, more than three-ton statue in 1914 for a cost of $20,325. The statue is 23 1/2 karat gold-gilded bronze.

Description

This work, Wisconsin, consists of an allegorical figure reminiscent of Athena, dressed in Greek garb, her right arm outstretched to symbolize the state motto, "Forward", and wearing a helmet topped by a badger, the Wisconsin state animal. The figure's left hand holds a globe with an eagle perched on top.

Wisconsin is 15 ft 5 in (4.70 m) tall and weighs 3 short tons (2.7 t).

The lady is also in a mural in the Wisconsin House of Representatives.

See also

• Public sculptures by Daniel Chester French