Perhaps controversially, here stands the statue of Thomas Jefferson. It embodies a complex legacy. This statue, once housed at City Hall, has moved to the New-York Historical Society. The relocation of the Thomas Jefferson Statue sparked debate. It highlights the ongoing reassessment of historical figures.
This seven-foot statue is not the original. It is a plaster model of the bronze version in the U.S. Capitol rotunda. The original artist was Pierre-Jean David d’Angers. He completed it in 1833.
Jefferson’s legacy is complicated. He was a founding father. He was the author of the Declaration of Independence. Yet he also owned hundreds of enslaved people. He even fathered children with one of them, Sally Hemings. The statue became a focal point. It was a reminder of the injustices faced by communities of color. This happened since the nation’s inception.
Assemblyman Charles Barron called for its removal in 2001. The Black, Latino, and Asian Caucus took up the cause. They wrote to Mayor Bill De Blasio. They described the artwork as a constant reminder of injustice.
The Public Design Commission finalized the relocation. The city loaned the work to the museum for 10 years. It will spend six months in the lobby gallery. Then it will move to the reading room. Both spaces are accessible without museum admission.
The museum stated it would provide historical context. It would address Jefferson’s contributions. It would also address the contradiction between his vision of equality and his ownership of enslaved people. The statue serves as a tribute. It honors Jefferson’s defense of freedom of religion. It also honors his promotion of the separation of church and state.
Uriah P. Levy commissioned the artwork. He intended it as a gift for Congress. Levy donated the plaster model to New York City in 1834. He was the first Jewish commodore in the U.S. Navy. Levy saw the work as a tribute. It recognized Jefferson’s support of religious freedom in the military. Before its installation at City Hall, Levy charged admission to view it. He used the proceeds to buy bread for the poor. The statue had been in the City Council chamber for over 100 years.
The statue’s relocation could pave the way for similar campaigns. These campaigns could target other artworks at city-owned property.
The New York City version of the Thomas Jefferson Statue had an interesting history. In 1834, the Common Council accepted Levy’s gift. They gave him a gold snuff box. They also gave him the Freedom of the City. Before its official installation, the statue was displayed at 355 Broadway. Admission was charged for viewing. The proceeds allowed Levy to purchase and distribute 1,200 loaves of bread to the poor.
For about seven decades, the statue resided in the Governor’s Room of City Hall. It was later placed in a hall in the building’s basement. Jefferson Monroe Levy lobbied. In 1919, the Art Commission voted to return the statue to the Governor’s Room.
In 1995, Deputy Mayor John S. Dyson planned to restore City Hall. Art scholar Leslie Freudenheim suggested moving the statue. She wanted it moved to a more prominent location. This would be at the juncture of City Hall’s staircases.
In 2011, the Council returned after renovations. Councilmember Letitia James noted the statue had been cleaned.
In June 2020, councilmembers called for the statue’s removal. They called Jefferson “America’s most noted slaveholder.” The Mayor stated a commission would explore the issue.
The New York City Public Design Commission voted to remove the statue in October 2021. It was removed in November 2021.
The removal of the Thomas Jefferson Statue reflects changing values. It shows a desire to confront the complexities of history. It encourages dialogue about America’s past and present.