Frederick Douglass Circle (Hofstra University, Hempstead, New York)

Frederick Douglass Circle (Hofstra University, Hempstead, New York)

An elder Frederick Douglass is depicted seated on a scissors chair— the armrests are adorned with the faces of open-mouthed lions, while the chair’s legs have been carved in the shape of lion’s legs. In bas-relief, the chair’s back is embellished with a widely circulated 18th-century anti-slavery medallion manufactured by the English potter Josiah Wedgwood. The design, which was likely created by the sculptor Henry Webber, features an enslaved black man, kneeling and bound by chains. The text below the figure reads “Am I not a friend and a brother?” The medallion became an important emblem of the abolitionist movement in both Britain and the United States. 
In Douglass's right hand, he holds the text to an 1883 speech that he delivered to mark the 20th anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation. The speech is continued on the pavement.

Bagwell, Vinnie, 1957-

Photograph: Hofstra University, https://www.flickr.com/photos/hofstrauniversity/39344857345/in/photostream/

October 29, 2008

Hofstra University

Hofstra University Museum of Art, 112 Hofstra University, Hempstead, New York, 11549, United States

JPEG

English

Visual Arts-Sculpture

Daniel L. Monroe Lecture Center Courtyard, South Campus, Hofstra University, Hempstead, New York, 11549, United States

Sculpture

53.5 x 33 x 28.25 in. (135.98 x 83.82 x 71.76 cm.)