With Boston still on all of our minds, I’m turning today to sculpture in my blog series on American artists.

On another day I will post pictures of some of August Saint-Gaudens‘ other gorgeous works, but today I am focusing on this magnificent monumental work in the Boston Public Garden. The Robert Gould Shaw Memorial, scultpure designed by Augustus Saint-Gaudens and framing designed by Stanford White, was built on Beacon Street Boston in 1897 in memory and honor of Shaw and his soldiers.

Robert Gould Shaw (1837 – 1863) was an American officer in the Union Army during the American Civil War. As Colonel, he commanded the all-black 54th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment, which entered the war in 1863.

Shaw was dubious about a free black unit succeeding in the war, but he agreed to lead them.  His men’s dedication deeply impressed him and, upon learning that the black soldiers received less pay than the white ones, his unit boycotted until this wrong was righted. The enlisted men of the 54th Massachusetts Infantry refused pay until Congress granted the black soldiers the same full back pay at the white pay rate in August 1864.

Here is a bust Saint-Gaudens created as a study for his Shaw monument. Below are some details of the relief.

With all good wishes sent to all Bostonians today.