PARK AND CEMRTRRY 
297 
RocHambeati Monument, WasKing^ton, D. C. 
The monument illustrated on this page, erected in 
memory of Count Rochambeau, commander-in-chief 
of the French forces that assisted America during the 
Revolution, was unveiled on Lafayette Square, Wash- 
ington, D. C., May 24, amid ceremonies of international 
significance. An official embassy 
from the French government, com- 
posed of distinguished civil and 
military representatives, and de- 
scendants of Count Rochambeau, 
was sent over on the French man- 
of-war Gaulois to participate in the 
dedication. The statue was unveiled 
l)y the Countess Rochambeau, and 
addresses delivered by President 
Roosevelt, Ambassador Cambon, 
Cardinal Gibbons, and General 
Horace Porter, United States Am- 
bassador to France. 
The statue stands at the south- 
west corner of Lafayette Square, 
and is a companion- 
piece to the monu- 
ment to Lafa\'ette at 
the southeast corner. 
It is a replica in 
bronze of the one 
modeled by Sculptor 
Ferdinand Hamar, 
now standing at 
A'endome, France, 
and was purchased 
by an appropriation 
of Congress. The 
pedestal, which is 
made of Poitou 
French Granite, w'as 
also designed by Ha- 
mar, and made by F. 
Gaussen. 
The monument 
consists of a finely 
proportioned pedes- 
tal. in the general 
form of a truncated 
liyramid, fronted by a symbolic group, and surmounted 
by the heroic-sized figure of Rochambeau. The great 
Field Marshal is shown in the full uniform of his 
rank, standing in a commanding position, directing 
the attack on the r)ritish lines. His right hand is out- 
stretched, and in his left he holds a map. 
The symbolic figure in front of the pedestal rep- 
resents France and the Spirit of Liberty, holding aloft 
the crossed flags of France and America. Beneath her 
feet is the prow of a ship, suggestive of the force 
which France sent to the aid of this country. Below 
are linked together the arms of France and of the 
United States, including the eagle, 
ind on the sides of the base are the 
coat-of-arms of the French nation 
and the Rochambeau family. The 
design throughout is admirably con- 
ceived and executed, and is everv- 
where suggestive of the ties of 
friendship between the two repub- 
lics. 
The cost of the statue was $22,- 
500, and Congress appropriated 
$15,000 for the preparation of the 
site and the erection of the pedestal, 
and $20,000 for the entertainment 
of the French visitors, who were the 
guests of the nation until June i. 
They were given of- 
ficial entertainment, 
and visited West 
Point, Annapolis, 
New York and Bos- 
ton during their 
stay. 
The monument is 
22 feet square at the 
base, and about 37 
feet high. The ma- 
terial of the base and 
pedestal was all 
quarried in France, 
the base being of red 
granite, and the rest 
of the pedestal of 
Caen stone. The 
work of erection was 
done by J. F. Man- 
ning & Co., Wash- 
ington, D. C. 
The sculptor. 
Ferdinand Hamar, 
who was present at the unveiling, is a pupil of Barrias, 
and is a deaf mute. He is a native of Vendome, the 
birthplace of Rochambeau, and is about 30 years old. 
The statue of Rochambeau was first shown at the Paris 
Exposition of 1900, won for the young sculptor an 
international reputation, and was soon after unveiled 
at A'endome with military honors. 
HAMAR’S statue of rochambeau, WASHINGTON, D. C. 
