The Promised Land

Art Historical Context

In the grand tradition of 19th-century American sculpture Franklin Simmons' *The Promised Land*modeled 1873–74; carved 1874) as a majestic marble allegory. Towering at over five feet tall (62 1/2 x 34 x 34 in.), this work from the Metropolitan Museum of Art's American Wing captures the era's neoclassical ideals, where marble's luminous purity evoked classical antiquity while symbolizing American aspirations. Gifted to the Museum in 1897 by Dr. J. Ackerman Coles, reflects the post-Civil War optimism for renewal and divine promise. The sculpture personifies "The Promised Land" through a serene ...