The Puritan (Springfield)
Encyclopedia
The Puritan is a bronze statue by sculptor Augustus St. Gaudens in Springfield, Massachusetts
, USA, which later became so popular that it was reproduced for over 20 other cities, museums, universities, and private collectors around the world. Augustus Saint-Gaudens was one of the most influential and successful artists of the late nineteenth century.
, a railroad tycoon and congressman from Springfield, Massachusetts
, commissioned the renowned sculptor Augustus Saint-Gaudens to create a bronze likeness of his ancestor, Deacon Samuel Chapin
(1595–1675), one of the early settlers of the City of Springfield. By 1881, Springfield had become one of America's most innovative industrial and manufacturing centers. At that time, it was one of the top five wealthiest cities in the United States.
Originally, the sculpture was placed in Stearns Square, between Bridge Street and Worthington Street - a collaboration between the artistic "dream team" of Stanford White
(of the renowned architecture firm McKim, Mead, and White
) and Saint-Gaudens - and featured numerous sculptural and landscape architectural details to enhance the sculpture. However, then as now, Stearns Square lies in the middle of Springfield's Club Quarter
, and was frequently vandalized by late-night revelers.
In 1901 - much to White's and St. Gaudens' chagrin - "The Puritan" was moved to Merrick Park, on the corner of Chestnut and State Streets, one of Springfield's most important intersections, (later the site of The Quadrangle
cultural center.) It has remained there ever since.
This impressive sculpture of the The Deacon can be found next to the palatial Springfield City Library. The base is inscribed:
"1595 Anno Domini 1675
Deacon Samuel Chapin
One Of The Founders Of Springfield"
's Metropolitan Museum of Art
.
For example, the New England Society of Pennsylvanians asked Gaudens to make a replica of The Puritan for the city of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
. For the later commission Gaudens made some changes in the figure's dress and adjusted the facial characteristics to represent a New England type: "For the head in the original statue, I used as a model the head of Mr. Chapin himself, assuming that there would be some family resemblance with the Deacon, who was his direct ancestor. But Mr. Chapin's face is round and Gaelic in character, so in the Philadelphia work, I changed the features completely, giving them the long, New England type, besides altering the folds of the cloak in many respects, the legs, the left hand, and the Bible." The Pilgrim was originally placed on the South Plaza of City Hall but was relocated to its present site in Fairmount Park
in 1920.
Springfield, Massachusetts
Springfield is the most populous city in Western New England, and the seat of Hampden County, Massachusetts, United States. Springfield sits on the eastern bank of the Connecticut River near its confluence with three rivers; the western Westfield River, the eastern Chicopee River, and the eastern...
, USA, which later became so popular that it was reproduced for over 20 other cities, museums, universities, and private collectors around the world. Augustus Saint-Gaudens was one of the most influential and successful artists of the late nineteenth century.
HIstory
In 1881, Chester W. ChapinChester W. Chapin
Chester William Chapin was a U.S. Representative from Massachusetts.Chester W. Chapin was born in Ludlow, Massachusetts, the youngest son of Ephriam and Mary [Smith] Chapin; six generations removed from the family's pilgrim immigrant Deacon Samuel Chapin attending common schools and Westfield...
, a railroad tycoon and congressman from Springfield, Massachusetts
Springfield, Massachusetts
Springfield is the most populous city in Western New England, and the seat of Hampden County, Massachusetts, United States. Springfield sits on the eastern bank of the Connecticut River near its confluence with three rivers; the western Westfield River, the eastern Chicopee River, and the eastern...
, commissioned the renowned sculptor Augustus Saint-Gaudens to create a bronze likeness of his ancestor, Deacon Samuel Chapin
Deacon Samuel Chapin
Deacon Samuel Chapin was one of the founders of Springfield, Massachusetts.He was born in Paignton, Devon, England, to John Chapin and Phillippe Easton on October 8, 1598....
(1595–1675), one of the early settlers of the City of Springfield. By 1881, Springfield had become one of America's most innovative industrial and manufacturing centers. At that time, it was one of the top five wealthiest cities in the United States.
Originally, the sculpture was placed in Stearns Square, between Bridge Street and Worthington Street - a collaboration between the artistic "dream team" of Stanford White
Stanford White
Stanford White was an American architect and partner in the architectural firm of McKim, Mead & White, the frontrunner among Beaux-Arts firms. He designed a long series of houses for the rich and the very rich, and various public, institutional, and religious buildings, some of which can be found...
(of the renowned architecture firm McKim, Mead, and White
McKim, Mead, and White
McKim, Mead & White was a prominent American architectural firm at the turn of the twentieth century and in the history of American architecture. The firm's founding partners were Charles Follen McKim , William Rutherford Mead and Stanford White...
) and Saint-Gaudens - and featured numerous sculptural and landscape architectural details to enhance the sculpture. However, then as now, Stearns Square lies in the middle of Springfield's Club Quarter
Club Quarter
The Club Quarter is located in Springfield, Massachusetts, in the Metro Center district surrounding historic Stearns Square. Stearns Square is bordered by Worthington Street to the north and Bridge Street to the south; however, the Club Quarter extends for several city blocks north, south, east,...
, and was frequently vandalized by late-night revelers.
In 1901 - much to White's and St. Gaudens' chagrin - "The Puritan" was moved to Merrick Park, on the corner of Chestnut and State Streets, one of Springfield's most important intersections, (later the site of The Quadrangle
The Quadrangle
The Quadrangle is a cluster of five museums in Springfield, Massachusetts, on Chestnut Street in Metro Center. Five museums and the Springfield City Library surround the Dr. Seuss National Memorial Sculpture Garden...
cultural center.) It has remained there ever since.
This impressive sculpture of the The Deacon can be found next to the palatial Springfield City Library. The base is inscribed:
"1595 Anno Domini 1675
Deacon Samuel Chapin
One Of The Founders Of Springfield"
Popularity
The statue was so popular with the public that Saint-Gaudens decided to produce smaller scale versions of this work under the title "The Puritan". He correctly surmised that this would be an excellent source of addition income. Today more than 25 slightly altered copies of this work can be found in museums, art galleries, universities, and private collections around the world. For example, a copy of The Puritan is one of the most popular sculptures at New York CityNew York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
's Metropolitan Museum of Art
Metropolitan Museum of Art
The Metropolitan Museum of Art is a renowned art museum in New York City. Its permanent collection contains more than two million works, divided into nineteen curatorial departments. The main building, located on the eastern edge of Central Park along Manhattan's Museum Mile, is one of the...
.
For example, the New England Society of Pennsylvanians asked Gaudens to make a replica of The Puritan for the city of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Philadelphia County, with which it is coterminous. The city is located in the Northeastern United States along the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers. It is the fifth-most-populous city in the United States,...
. For the later commission Gaudens made some changes in the figure's dress and adjusted the facial characteristics to represent a New England type: "For the head in the original statue, I used as a model the head of Mr. Chapin himself, assuming that there would be some family resemblance with the Deacon, who was his direct ancestor. But Mr. Chapin's face is round and Gaelic in character, so in the Philadelphia work, I changed the features completely, giving them the long, New England type, besides altering the folds of the cloak in many respects, the legs, the left hand, and the Bible." The Pilgrim was originally placed on the South Plaza of City Hall but was relocated to its present site in Fairmount Park
Fairmount Park
Fairmount Park is the municipal park system of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It consists of 63 parks, with , all overseen by the Philadelphia Department of Parks and Recreation, successor to the Fairmount Park Commission in 2010.-Fairmount Park proper:...
in 1920.