Report on an Equestrian Statue, 2 November 1785
Report on an Equestrian Statue
Office for foreign Affairs 2d. Novemr. 1785
The Secretary of the United States for the Department of foreign Affairs to whom was referred his Letter of 29th. Ult. to his Excellency the President mentioning the Arrival here of Mr. Houdon, a celebrated Statuary, and hinting the Propriety of employing him to make the Equestrian Statue of General Washington voted by Congress—1 Reports—
That he Yesterday conferred with Mr. Houdon on the Subject — He said that being in Possession of the Foundary at which was cast a fine equestrian Statue of Louis the 15th. he will be able to make the one in Question on Terms more moderate than any other Artist in Paris—That until his Return it will not be in his Power to form an accurate Computation of the Expence, but that he will then prepare and transmit an Estimate;2 and proposed that in the mean Time nothing further might be done.
Your Secretary takes the Liberty of observing that the Devices in Basso relievo directed to be wrought on the Pedestal will exceedingly enhance the Expence, and therefore in his Opinion merits ^re^Consideration.—
It will require a very able Artist to compose these several Devices and prepare them for the Engraver, who should also be an eminent one.—
When they are compleated, none but such as may be minutely informed of the History of the Transactions alluded to will understand them and when they do, they will find them better represented by the Historian.—
To your Secretary these Devices and the great Expence attending them, appear perfectly useless.—
Would it not be more laconic, equally nervous and less expensive, to put in the Place of these Devices, only a Book inscribed “Life of General Washington,” and underneath
Stranger read it. Citizens imitate his Example.
All which is Submitted to the Wisdom of Congress.—
John Jay
DS, DNA: PCC, item 81, 1: 495–496a (EJ: 3873). Endorsed: “Report of Secy. for forn. Affairs / on the resolve / for an Eq Statue of / Genl Washington / 2 Novr 1785”. LbkCs, DNA: PCC, item 124, 1: 220–21 (EJ: 4542); NNC: JJ Lbk. 3; 29: 869.
1. JJ to the President of Congress, 29 Oct., LS, DNA: PCC, item 80, 2: 41 (EJ:158); LbkC, DNA: Domestic Letters, 1: 506 (EJ: 1802). No agreement was made at that time since Houdon was not prepared to present a cost estimate. See JJ to TJ, and to JA, both 2 Nov. 1785, LbkC, , 156–58 (EJ: 2444, 2445); Dft, to TJ, NNC (EJ: 5783); 9: 8–9.
2. TJ enclosed Houdon’s first proposal for the equestrian statue in his letter to JJ of 8 July 1786 (LS, DNA: PCC, item 87, 1: 515; LbkC, DNA: PCC, item 107, 1: 315). It called for payment of 600,000 lt. and estimated a term of ten years to complete it (Tr, in hand of William Short, of the French text, DNA: PCC, item 87, 1: 534–35; PrC of Short’s Tr, DLC: Jefferson; translation by John Pintard, DNA: PCC, item 87, 1: 542; LbkC of both English and French texts, DNA: PCC, item 107, 1: 328–29). JJ forwarded Pintard’s translation in his letter to President of Congress Nathaniel Gorham of 26 Sept. 1786 (LS, DNA: PCC, item 80, 3: 97 [EJ: 254]; LbkC, , 2: 456–57 [EJ: 2039]). Houdon prepared a second proposition in 1789 with a price of 1 million lt. and an eight year completion time. However, no agreement was reached, and the statue was never produced. 10: 99; 15: 319.