Question: What if I told you this statue was almost not made by a woman?
The Joan of Arc Memorial Sculpture stands tall as a tribute to an amazing woman. It also represents a turning point for female artists. This equestrian statue honors Joan of Arc. She was a 15th-century French patriot and martyr.
Let’s delve into the story of this remarkable monument. In 1909, a group of New Yorkers formed the Joan of Arc Statue Committee. Their goal was to celebrate the 500th anniversary of Joan’s birth. The committee sought a sculptor who could capture her essence.
Anna Vaughn Hyatt Huntington was chosen for the commission in 1914. She had displayed a plaster equestrian statue of Joan of Arc at the Paris Salon of 1910. Her artwork received an honorable mention. Yet some jury members doubted a woman could create such a grand sculpture on her own.
Huntington proved them wrong. She created the first equestrian statue sculpted by a woman in New York City. The Joan of Arc Memorial became the first monument to a non-fictional woman in the city.
The statue stands at over 20 feet tall. It rests on a pedestal of Mohegan granite. The pedestal was designed by architect John van Pelt. It includes limestone blocks from the Tower of Rouen. Joan was imprisoned there. Stones from the Cathedral of Reims are also included. These stones represent the highs and lows of her life.
Huntington researched Joan’s armor at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. She borrowed a horse from the fire department in her hometown. Her niece posed as a model for Joan. First, she posed nude. Then, she posed in costume while straddling a barrel.
The Joan of Arc Memorial was unveiled on December 6, 1915. Mrs. Thomas Alva Edison pulled the cord that dropped the drapery. Thousands of people gathered to witness the event.
Reproductions of the statue were commissioned. They were placed in Gloucester, Massachusetts, and Quebec City, Canada. Huntington received France’s highest honor. She became a member of the Légion d’Honneur. This was for creating a monument to France’s national heroine.
The Municipal Art Society, NYC’s Department of Parks and Recreation, and the Art Commission formed the Adopt-A-Monument Program in 1987. The Grand Marnier Foundation provided a grant to clean and restore the monument. The nearby condo at 222 Riverside Drive donated funds to improve the area around the statue.
The inscription on the pedestal reads: “JOAN OF ARC / BORN AT / DOMREMY FRANCE / JANUARY 6TH, 1411 / BURNED AT THE STAKE AT / ROUEN, FRANCE / MAY 30TH, 1431/ ERECTED BY / THE JOAN OF ARC STATUE COMMITTEE / IN THE CITY OF NEW YORK 1915”.
Today, the Joan of Arc Memorial stands as a testament to Joan’s courage. It also honors Anna Vaughn Hyatt Huntington’s artistic talent. It reminds us of the importance of recognizing women’s contributions to art and history. Take a moment to appreciate the details. Notice Joan’s armor and the powerful horse she rides. Think about the obstacles Huntington overcame to create this masterpiece.