Samuel Adams Statue in Boston (2001 photograph)

What it is

This is a photograph of a bronze statue of Samuel Adams standing with arms folded on a tall granite pedestal. The pedestal is inscribed 'Samuel Adams 1722-1803, a patriot, he organized the revolution and signed the Declaration of Independence'. Behind the statue is a red brick building with arched windows under a pediment, and a tree stands to the left. The statue is dated 1880 in its record, and the photograph is listed under 2001.

Why it matters

The statue was made by Anne Whitney and shows how Adams was honored in Boston in the later nineteenth century. Its inscription credits him with organizing the revolution and signing the Declaration of Independence. The curator's note describes the photograph as a modern picture of the memorial, so it shows how the statue was seen, not how Adams looked.

Look closer

• What does the pedestal inscription claim about Adams, and what evidence would you need to check it?
• Why might the statue's sponsors have wanted to emphasize his role in the revolution?
• What does a statue leave out about the people who opposed Adams or disagreed with him?