Spirit of the Confederacy Monument in Bolton Hill
Mount Royal Terrace between Mosher & Lafayette (Street View)
GPS: 39° 18′ 31.75″ N 76° 37′ 21.03″ W
History
Known as the Spirit of the Confederacy, this monument reads upon the front face of the pedestal, “Gloria Victis,” or “Glory to the Vanquished.” Though this sculpture is by Frederic Wellington Ruckstull and was dedicated in February of 1903, Gloria Victis is also the title of a 1874 sculpture at the National Gallery in Washington, DC by artist Antonin Mercie commemorating France’s loss in the Franco-Prussian War. Mercie is the sculptor responsible for the nearby Francis Scott Key Monument.
Notes
The monument stands between Mt Royal Avenue proper, and Mt Royal Terrace, a parallel access street for residents of the Bolton Hill neighborhood. Nearby stand several buildings of the Maryland Institute, College of Art. The sculpture is composed of two figures: the allegorical figure of Glory with wings outstretched, who holds aloft a laurel wreath in one hand, and in the other supports a soldier whose strength is failing him. His flag is lowered and he seems near defeat.
Nearby
- Col. William Watson Memorial
- Francis Scott Key Monument
- Maryland Line Monument
- WWI Medal of Honor Memorial
Links
- On Panoramio [2] & Flickr
- Smithsonian entry
[…] Village, which was built in 1948 to honor Lee and fellow Confederate General Stonewall Jackson. The Confederate Soldiers and Sailors Monument (Spirit of the Confederacy) in Station North features a winged angel (Glory) lifting a Confederate […]
Baltimore: Stop honoring white supremacy (UPDATED) – Baltimore City Paper (blog)
28 Jun 15 at 2:23 am
The other phrase carved in the monument base is “Deo Vindice,” from the Great Seal of the Confederate States. The following is a quote from an interview with one of the committee members responsible for creating that Seal.
“Having discarded the word ‘duce,’ the committee endeavored to select in lieu of it a word more in consonance with the attributes of the Deity, and therefore more imposing and significant. They think success has crowned their efforts in the selection of the word ‘vindex,’ which signifies an assenter, a defender, protector, deliverer, liberator, a mediator and a ruler or guardian. ‘Vindex’ also means an avenger or punisher.
“No word appeared more grand, more expressive or significant than this. Under God as the asserter of our rights, the defender of our liberties, our protector against danger, our mediator, our ruler and guardian, and, as the avenger of our wrongs and the punisher of our crimes, we endeavor to equal or even excel our ancestors. What word can be suggested of more power, and so replete with sentiments and thoughts consonant with our idea of the omnipotence and justice of God?
John Gray
9 Jul 15 at 8:39 am