The Shaw 54th Regiment Memorial at the National Gallery of Art
While visiting the Afro-Atlantic Histories exhibition at the National Gallery of Art, I rather accidentally entered into the gallery which houses “The Shaw 54 Regiment Memorial”. Although the countless pieces of artwork in the Afro-Atlantic Histories’ show were beyond profound and beautiful, this adjunct piece was even more breathtaking. The masterpiece is a replica with slight refinements of the original sculpture which stands in Boston, MA.
The monumental sculpture honors the 54th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment, a group in the Union Army during the American Civil War. The unit was the second African-American regiment, although it was commanded by a white officer by the name of Robert Gould Shaw, depicted here riding a horse. The first all-Black unit was the Kansas Colored Volunteer Infantry Regiment.
As I looked at their faces, I thought about these soldiers who were of African descent like me, who were fighting for freedoms. The relief’s sculptor, August Saint-Gaudens, was able to finely depict the physical features, resolve, and countenance of these men as they marched forward. The sculpture almost spans an entire wall and is commanding in its presence.
At the battle of Fort Wagner on July 18, 1863, the soldiers of the 54th were at the front of the charge and were among the first to die. Of the 600 men in the unit who fought, over 250 were killed, wounded or captured including the Colonel. By the end of the war, African-Americans composed 10 percent of the Union forces.
The Shaw 54th Regiment Memorial is acclaimed by many scholars as the greatest American sculpture of the 19th century. I can understand why. In standing there in front of it, to the left and to the right of it, my mind thought of the heroic efforts which were depicted in this artwork. As is so often the case, art connects us with the past and the present. I’m certainly grateful for all of the forces which came together to create a lasting tribute of the infantry’s heart, honor, and soul. So happy that I was able to see it!
