Bonhams 1793 : Felix de Weldon (American 1907-2003) The original plaster maquette for the Marine Corps War Memorial in Arlington 1946

Iwo Jima monunemt model - NOT TO BE SOLD

22 Feb 2013 13:00 EST New York
World War II: The Pacific Theater
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Felix de Weldon (American 1907-2003) The original plaster maquette for the Marine Corps War Memorial in Arlington 1946

One of a small number of plaster maquettes made up in 1946-48, perhaps 4 or more, this one recovered from de Weldon's studio in Washington by the War Museum, and was probably used by de Weldon as the model for the Arlington Memorial. A plaster maquette was taken into Congress to be shown to the House before Congressional approval, in the unanimous vote in 1946 to support the building of a new Marine Corps Memorial in Arlington. Rather than a heavier 4 foot maquette made for the first 1945 monument, de Weldon decided that a more portable version would be more practicable. The newly agreed form of the Memorial has a definite change from the earlier monument, in that de Weldon decided to move the front figure, swinging the lead man to the right, so that the direction of the hips and shoulders became more closely aligned to the other 5 men, and closing out the gap between the lead flag planter and the other 5 flag raisers. He repositioned the arms so as to draw the lead man back towards the flag pole, in so doing giving the image, a unity of action and forward motion that was more dramatic. De Weldon said that he felt that the change made the Memorial 'more symbolic of the whole war effort of the strain and work, and the will to sacrifice'.
With 8 period photographs of the maquette in the Washington studio. 5 with the maquette bronzed and on a higher mound; and a fine example of the dedication program for the memorial, November 10, 1954.
Height 22 in. (without flag)
Length 26 in.
Width 14 in.
Weight 65lbs.

Sold for US$ 18,750 inc. premium

Footnotes

Exhibited:
The US Naval War College Museum, Rhode Island
The Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum, New York, 1995-2007

Provenance:
- Felix de Weldon
- The War Museum

The Marine Corps Memorial Foundation had been formed in 1945 to sponsor and raise the money to build the bronze monument. In 1946 Congress voted for the creation of the Marine Corps War Memorial giving the Marines the site just outside the Arlington Cemetery, the memorial to be placed in the direct sight line to the Capitol. The Foundation eventually raised $850,000 (perhaps $50 million today). De Weldon started to work on the plaster full-size plaster model of the Memorial in his studio. He began work in 1947, and worked for 3 to 4 years on the plaster version which slowly grew in his studio. He had the three surviving flag raisers come and model for him, as they had done for the earlier monument. The task was finished by 1951 and then for the next 3 years, the 35 sections of the Memorial were trucked individually to the Bedi-Rassy Foundry in New York, to be cast and eventually after the construction of the gardens, were assembled on the Arlington site, the 35 bronze pieces screwed together. In November 10th 1954 the Marines Corps Memorial was unveiled to worldwide acclaim. An amazing Memorial in a magnificent setting, one of the great, if not greatest, of all war Memorials. Ypres and Menin Gate may have the somber reality of war sketched on them, but the Arlington Memorial has the flag, and the men, and the duty, and the honor, all rolled into one.

Category: Books / Books, Maps and Manuscripts

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