Type Sculpture Artist Karl Bitter Material Bronze sculpture Year 1915 | Medium Bronze Created June 1915 Subject Thomas Jefferson | |
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Condition "Treatment needed" (1993) Location Portland, Oregon, United States Similar Liberty Bell, Allow Me, Pulitzer Fountain | ||
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Thomas Jefferson is an outdoor 1915 bronze sculpture of Thomas Jefferson by Karl Bitter, located outside Jefferson High School in north Portland, Oregon, United States. The statue was dedicated in June 1915.
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Description
Karl Bitter's statue, which overlooks the football and track fields on the north side of Jefferson High School, depicts Thomas Jefferson seated on a draped chair with his arm resting on its back. His right arm rests in his lap and holds a pen and papers. The bronze measures 5 feet (1.5 m) x 2.5 feet (0.76 m) x 3.5 feet (1.1 m) and sits on a stone base that measures 5 feet (1.5 m) x 3.5 feet (1.1 m) x 4 feet (1.2 m). One description displays: KARL BITTER ROMAN BRONZE WORKS NEW YORK, NY. The front of the plinth reads: THE GIFT OF THE ALUMNI AND STUDENTS OF JEFFERSON HIGH SCHOOL AND / BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF SCHOOL DISTRICT NUMBER ONE / JUNE 1915. The base's west side display: BEAR IN MIND THIS SACRED PRINCIPAL, THAT / THOUGH THE WILL OF THE MAJORITY IS IN / ALL CASES TO PREVAIL, THAT WILL, TO BE / RIGHTFUL, MUST BE REASONABLE; THAT THE / MINORITY POSSESS THEIR EQUAL RIGHTS, / WHICH EQUAL LAWS MUST PROTECT, / AND TO VIOLATE WOULD BE OPPRESSION." / THOMAS JEFFERSON. The east side of the base includes inscriptions of the foundry Roman Bronze Works' mark as well as the text: THE GREATEST SERVICE WHICH CAN BE / RENDERED TO ANY COUNTRY IS TO ADD / A USEFUL PLANT TO ITS CULTURE." / THOMAS JEFFERSON.
History
In June 1913, Jefferson High School graduates suggested installing a statue of the president on the campus. The sculpture was dedicated in June 1915, having been funded by alumni and current students, plus members of School District Number One's board of directors. It was surveyed and considered "treatment needed" by the Smithsonian Institution's "Save Outdoor Sculpture!" program in December 1993.