Henry Bradley Plant Memorial by Neil Marcus

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25-Oct-2020

Henry Bradley Plant Memorial

The man who was responsible for the Tampa Bay Hotel which ultimately became the University of Tampa. click to see this Moorish castle
I find this memoriam very strange. See if it makes sense to you.

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TampaPix		19-May-2024 01:29
About the history of this piece: This sculpture first appears in the background of a May 4, 1904 photo of about twenty-seven members of Ye Mystic Krewe of Gasparilla on horseback It was for Tampa's second May festival and the FIRST appearance of the "Gasparillas". The only information about this sculpture I found in ANY newspaper which can be accessed online and published between 1899 and 1904 was on Mar. 28, 1902 in the Tampa Tribune: "F. Piccarilli [sic] the designer of the Plant memorial fountain, is here to superintend the setting up of the handsome piece of sculpture." Look it up if you have access to newspapers dot com. If you do some research on the PICCIRILLI brothers, you will learn of the MANY pieces they sculpted FOR OTHER ARTISTS. The most famous is Abraham Lincoln for the Lincoln Memorial. THEY did the carving in the Bronx in 28 huge blocks for Daniel French. MANY of their works are found in NY. "Although the Piccirilli Brothers were known primarily as architectural modelers and the carvers of other sculptors' works, Attilio and Furio further distinguished themselves as sculptors in their own right." They were highly respected and admired in their lifetimes. I have no doubt that either Furio or Feruccio Picirilli was in Tampa to install the sculpture that he and his brothers sculpted. In fact, I am beginning to think that Barnard had nothing to to with it, unless I see some conclusive evidence from the early 1900s. History has a way of changing much in as little as ten years. Barnard is mentioned TWO TIMES in Tampa's newspaper Tribune in early 1900s. Once in an article on Oct. 8, 1910 about his six-year-old son being hit by a car in Paris. Once in the Society Page section of the Tribune on Sept. 14, 1902. "Student Art Club Enjoyed an Afternoon With Mrs. Deakyne." The club was created about six months earlier and generally held meetings each week.to study various artworks and artists. They had previously studied Egyptian, Roman, Greek, Byzantine, Saracenic, Gothic, Renaissance..etc art and various artists. The article stated that for this recent meeting, the club President spoke of the "young artist Barnard, who had recently been given a $350,000 contract" and "formerly, while studying in Paris lived in the Latin Quarter on $350 for three years." That's it. This was probably a reference to him being awarded the contract (July 1902) for ALL THE SCULPTURE for the new Pennsylvania State House, architect Jos. Huston . From what I see online about Barnard, he had already achieved some notoriety in the USA by 1902. He was in Paris from 1883 to 1896. IF BARNARD CREATED and THE PLANT MEMORIAL SCULPTURE which was installed in Tampa SIX MONTHS earlier before this art club meeting, this club would have surely said more about Barnard. I'm skeptical that he had anything to do with it and the attribution to him as the sculptor of this piece and it's commissioning, is a more recent-times speculation-turned-fact by the sands of time. The H.B. Plant Museum has done this before, concerning Clara Barton, who DID NOT SPEND THE NIGHT in the T.B. Hotel. As per her own entries in her actual journals online at L.o.C. I've busted many Tampa history stories and found information from the time of the events to the contrary or conflicting, proving that the currently accepted history is pure embellishment at least. I won't believe the Barnard story until I see the "smoking gun!" VERY NICE PHOTO, BTW. Did you notice anywhere on the piece that it was signed by Barnard? An artist usually signs their creations. The Piccirilli bros name is NOT on the Lincoln Memorial statue, and I found two reasons why: One is that Daniel French wanted to put their name on it, but they were too humble and so they did not. The other is more credible: that being Italian immigrants, the powers-that-be did not allow their name put on it. Research the ceremony of the Lincoln Memorial monument about the bigotry and paradoxical segregation that took place during it.

Jeff Real		01-Aug-2021 17:49
What a striking image! Truly a remarkable composition with the center of attention being absolutely fascinating. V

David Buzzeo		12-Nov-2020 23:19
Not the complete answer but a start. Description: A circular fountain basin with an allegorical sculpture representing ships and trains, symbols of transportation that was fueling development at the turn of the century, especially in Florida. In the center of the sculpture is a ship's stern topped by an eagle holding a treasure chest in its talons. Flanking the ship's stern are male and female sea nymphs. The male holds a locomotive and the female holds a ship. On each side, at the lower part of the piece, are fish that spout water into the fountain basin. Remarks: The fountain was commissioned in 1900 by Mrs. Margaret Plant, widow of railroad and shipping magnet, Henry Bradley Plant. She had the fountain installed in front of the Tampa Bay Hotel, built by Henry Bradley Plant in 1891. The historic hotel later became the Henry B. Plant Museum of the University of Tampa. This statue is reportedly the oldest piece of public art in Tampa. Barnard designed the statue; Hotel staff probably designed the fountain. IAS files contain related articles from the Tampa Tribune and the St. Petersburg Times, and excerpts from the books "The Treasure City-Tampa," by Gary Mormino and Tony Pizzo and "Plant's Palace: Henry B. Plant and the Tampa Bay Hotel," by James Covington. For additional information see South Tampa News, Nov. 8, 1995. TITLE: Transportation, (sculpture) or Henry Bradley Plant Memorial Fountain, (sculpture). ARTIST(S): Barnard, George Grey, 1863-1938, sculptor. DATE: ca. 1899-1900. Commissioned 1900. Rededicated Oct. 30, 1995. MEDIUM: Sculpture: limestone; Base: cast concrete and stucco; Basin: cast concrete and stucco. CONTROL NUMBER: IAS FL000211 Direct Link to the Individual Listing in the Smithsonian Art Inventory: [Web Link] PHYSICAL LOCATION: University of Tampa 401 W. Kennedy Blvd. Tampa, FL 33606

Don Mottershead		12-Nov-2020 18:56
Yup, that's a strange one. Very nicely photographed.

Allan Jay		12-Nov-2020 16:52
An excellent choice of perspective!

danad		12-Nov-2020 15:47
Well .... The composition is so much better than this massive rococo chaotic stone....V.

Pieter Bos		12-Nov-2020 14:46
Massive sculpture with beautiful details. Very good compo too! ~V

Marcia Rules		12-Nov-2020 13:59
I have no idea ! Who dreamed this up? It's kind of scary to me...

janescottcumming		12-Nov-2020 13:48
That is one strange statue! I put it in original for a really good look. Lots of cool elements to it but it makes no sense to me. I do however like your presentation of it. V

Range View		12-Nov-2020 10:07
I agree Neil, it does seem strange and fail to find any meaning to this work. David.

John Hamers		12-Nov-2020 08:49
Not a sculpture you would expect at this place with these modern buildings. A well composed image though. !V

Charlene Ambrose		12-Nov-2020 08:02
A nicely composed image but I agree that it is strange for a memorial. V

joseantonio		12-Nov-2020 04:35
love your composition with the modern buildings and the palm trees in the background.V.

David Buzzeo		12-Nov-2020 03:41
I have seen a number of those figures and symbols throughout my journeys, especially in Europe. But I have never taken the time to research them. Nevertheless, that is an excellent photograph of whatever they mean. V

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