Design for Cooper Monument
Classification
architecture
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Accession Number
1937-10-4
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
Stanford White, a leading figure in American architecture at the turn of the 20th century, created this design for the Cooper Monument around1900. Best known as a partner in the influential firm McKim, Mead & White, he helped shape the Beaux-Arts movement in the United States, blending classical European forms with American civic ideals. This architectural drawing reflects his expertise in commemorative structures, which often graced public spaces in cities like New York during the Gilded Age. Classified as architecture, the work captures the era’s fascination with grand monuments honoring in...