Augustus Saint-Gaudens (American, born Ireland, 1848-1907). <em>Head from the Adams Memorial</em>, modeled 1891, copyrighted 1908. Bronze, 19 5/16 x 12 x 7 1/2 in. (49.1 x 30.5 x 19.1cm). Brooklyn Museum, Robert B. Woodward Memorial Fund, 23.256. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 23.256.jpg)

Augustus Saint-Gaudens (American, born Ireland, 1848-1907). Head from the Adams Memorial, modeled 1891, copyrighted 1908. Bronze, 19 5/16 x 12 x 7 1/2 in. (49.1 x 30.5 x 19.1cm). Brooklyn Museum, Robert B. Woodward Memorial Fund, 23.256. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 23.256.jpg)

DOWNLOAD

Download our app and ask your own questions during your visit. Here are some that others have asked.

Who is this supposed to be and why are they cloaked?

This is a bust from a such larger sculpture of a seated figure by Augustus Saint-Gaudens. The entire statue is part of a memorial to the wife of historian Henry Adams.

Some scholars have linked the robe-covered head to the Japanese depictions of the Buddhist figure Kannon, who is often shown in such a way. Kannon represents the concept of compassion.

Was she widely known as a compassionate person? Or was that smothering adapted at the time for women?

Her husband was interested in Buddhism and asked that Saint-Gaudens look towards Buddhist imagery when making the memorial, specifically to the idea of Kannon.

Head from the Adams Memorial

Augustus Saint-Gaudens

American Art

On View: Luce Visible Storage and Study Center, 5th Floor

ARTIST Augustus Saint-Gaudens, American, born Ireland, 1848-1907

MEDIUM Bronze

Place Made: United States

DATES modeled 1891, copyrighted 1908

DIMENSIONS 19 5/16 x 12 x 7 1/2 in. (49.1 x 30.5 x 19.1cm) (show scale)

SIGNATURE In relief on proper right side of base: "A ST G [initials in monogram] FECIT. M.D.C.C.C.LXXXXI" and inscribed on lower edge of bust at proper right: "COPYRIGHT . BY . A . H . SAINT-GAUDENS . 1908"

COLLECTIONS American Art

ACCESSION NUMBER 23.256

CREDIT LINE Robert B. Woodward Memorial Fund

CATALOGUE DESCRIPTION Bust of female with closed eyes, shrouded with heavy, hooded drapery; on rectangular pedestal base. Condition: Good.

MUSEUM LOCATION This item is on view in Luce Visible Storage and Study Center, 5th Floor

CAPTION Augustus Saint-Gaudens (American, born Ireland, 1848-1907). Head from the Adams Memorial, modeled 1891, copyrighted 1908. Bronze, 19 5/16 x 12 x 7 1/2 in. (49.1 x 30.5 x 19.1cm). Brooklyn Museum, Robert B. Woodward Memorial Fund, 23.256. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 23.256.jpg)

IMAGE overall, 23.256.jpg. Brooklyn Museum photograph

"CUR" at the beginning of an image file name means that the image was created by a curatorial staff member. These study images may be digital point-and-shoot photographs, when we don\'t yet have high-quality studio photography, or they may be scans of older negatives, slides, or photographic prints, providing historical documentation of the object.

RIGHTS STATEMENT Creative Commons-BY

You may download and use Brooklyn Museum images of this three-dimensional work in accordance with a Creative Commons license. Fair use, as understood under the United States Copyright Act, may also apply. Please include caption information from this page and credit the Brooklyn Museum. If you need a high resolution file, please fill out our online application form (charges apply). For further information about copyright, we recommend resources at the United States Library of Congress, Cornell University, Copyright and Cultural Institutions: Guidelines for U.S. Libraries, Archives, and Museums, and Copyright Watch. For more information about the Museum's rights project, including how rights types are assigned, please see our blog posts on copyright. If you have any information regarding this work and rights to it, please contact copyright@brooklynmuseum.org.