Metadata
Title
Alexander Hamilton
Creator
J. Lanelli after Giuseppe Ceracchi
Date
1804 (circa) - 1810 (circa)
Description
Alexander Hamilton (1757-1804) served as secretary and aide-de-camp to Washington during the American Revolution. After the war, he studied law and began a distinguished service in the new government. In 1789 he became the first United States Secretary of the Treasury and was instrumental in organizing the country's finances and in establishing a national bank. Hamilton died at the age of forty-seven from wounds suffered in a duel with his political opponent Aaron Burr.
This plaster replica of Giuseppe Ceracchi's 1794 marble bust was made by Lanelli following Hamilton's tragic death. Ceracchi (b.1751), the renowned Roman sculptor, visited Philadelphia in 1791 and 1794. Here he modeled many of America's founding fathers, Washington, Jefferson, etc., in the guise of Roman emperors. The engraving of Hamilton on the US $10 bill is based upon the Ceracchi bust.
Banished from Italy because of his liberal political views, Ceracchi was executed in Paris in 1801 after plotting to assassinate Napoleon.
The bust was painted in 1955.
This plaster replica of Giuseppe Ceracchi's 1794 marble bust was made by Lanelli following Hamilton's tragic death. Ceracchi (b.1751), the renowned Roman sculptor, visited Philadelphia in 1791 and 1794. Here he modeled many of America's founding fathers, Washington, Jefferson, etc., in the guise of Roman emperors. The engraving of Hamilton on the US $10 bill is based upon the Ceracchi bust.
Banished from Italy because of his liberal political views, Ceracchi was executed in Paris in 1801 after plotting to assassinate Napoleon.
The bust was painted in 1955.
Extent
24.0" H
Medium
Plaster; painted in 1955
Collection
General Collection, Museum Collection, The Athenaeum of Philadelphia
Identifier
AP.29.01
Rights
http://www.philaathenaeum.org/rights.html