Sculptor Antonio Capellano
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The commission for the Battle Monument was won by French architect Maximilian Godefroy in 1815, one year after the Battle of Baltimore. Godefroy hired Italian artist Antonio Capellano to complete the statue and relief work he incorporated into his design. While waiting for Godefroy during the monument’s conception, Capellano was hired by Robert Cary Long, Sr. to create facade reliefs for the third Old St. Paul’s Church. The building burned down in 1854, but the sculptures were spared and installed in Richard Upjohn’s building that stands today. Capellano and Godefroy also worked together on the First Unitarian Church (just north of the Basilica, approaching the Washington Monument) for which the Italian sculptor created the Angel of Truth in 1818. The sculpture was reconstructed by local artist Henry Berge (son of Edward Berge) in 1960.
Lossing in his revolutionary war field-book (v.II, p 206, note 1), sites Capelano (1804) as the artist who created the Tripoli naval monument, now at USNA. Think most people nowadays credit it to Giovanni Charles Micali. One, do you know anything about this Capelano/Tripoli connection? Two, is this the Capellano you’re associating with Godefroy, above?
Thanks for any help.
George Haskins
Hartsdale, NY
George Haskins
9 Jul 11 at 4:57 am
I’m not sure if Capellano created the Tripoli Monument. 1804 seems early for him. The book ‘Works of Art in the U.S. Capitol Building‘ has Capellano in New York in 1815 but I can’t find reference to him in America prior to this point.
I can’t seem to find his exact birth and death dates either. Thanks for the inquiry. I’ll look into it more. Really great website you have. Great service.
monumentcity
9 Jul 11 at 11:11 am