Edgar Allan Poe Memorial

Richard Henry Park

1882–84; carved 1884 · Marble and bronze · The American Wing

The Edgar Allan Poe Memorial was executed by Park in Florence and unveiled at the Metropolitan Museum on May 4, 1885. The memorial was commissioned by a group of New York actors in memory of American writer and poet Edgar Allan Poe (1809–1849). The central focus of the composition is a bronze relief portrait of Poe, situated within a classical marble entablature. A full-length female figure, carved in marble, stands to the left of the portrait holding a marble wreath of oak leaves and acorns. The lengthy inscription engraved on the marble tablet, was written by drama critic William Winter.

Artist

Richard Henry Park

Date

1882–84; carved 1884

Medium

Marble and bronze

Culture

American

Department

The American Wing

Credit line

Gift of the Actors of the City of New York, 1885