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Outside of the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center rests a memorial fountain flanked by two bronze sculptures dedicated to the late Oscar Solomon Straus, a United States philanthropist and statesman. While the fountain itself is in excellent condition, the bronze sculptures by artist Adolph Alexander Weinman, Voice of Reason and Liberty of Worship, required bronze sculpture maintenance.

Liberty of Worship, 1947, Adolph Alexander Weinman
Voice of Reason, 1947, Adolph Alexander Weinman

Christina L. Simms, Conservator of Objects and Sculpture, traveled to Washington D.C. to perform the bronze sculpture maintenance. She was assisted by Curtis McCartney, Conservation Technician. The bronze figures suffered condition issues that are typical of outdoor bronze sculptures: failed coatings and corrosion which change the color of the patina and can damage the metal.

Detail of failing coatings and corrosion

For the Wienman sculptures, previous protective coatings were failing due to exposure to the elements, especially on the upward facing surfaces. This failure can be observed by areas of green-colored corrosion seen on the arms, gown, hands, and knees in both bronze figures.

For the bronze sculpture maintenance, the two seated figures were first pressure-washed by McCartney to remove any friable corrosion, dirt, or other debris. The bronze surface readily dried in the hot Washington, D.C. weather, but Simms and McCartney ensured the metal surface was completely dry before the next step.

As part of the bronze sculpture maintenance, conservator Christina L. Simms then heated the Voice of Reason until it was the right temperature to apply the protective coating. Conservator Simms carefully applied the wax coating to ensure that it covered the metal; uncoated areas can be sites of preferential corrosion which can damage the underlying bronze as well as create a patchy appearance.

Conservator Simms gradually applies the wax coating, saturating the corrosion

The wax coating was allowed to sufficiently cool, then the bronze figures were buffed by hand to create an even sheen. Depending on the weather, the coating should last another three to five years until it requires another bronze sculpture maintenance treatment.

After treatment, the surface is even in appearance and the bronze is protected

The bronze sculptures were cast by Roman Bronze Works Inc. of New York. The sculptures have robust features and they are larger than life in size. Liberty of Worship features a seated woman clad in a long gown. Her hands are raised in prayer off to the side as she rest against a large tablet. A young boy kneels at her side clutching an open book. The granite pedestal below has an inscribed message in all capitals, “OUR LIBERTY OF WORSHIP IS NOT A CONCESSION NOR A PRIVILEGE BUT AN INHERENT RIGHT”.

On the other side of the plaza fountain sits Voice of Reason. The sculpture is that of a seated man in a draped toga, but bare chested. His arms appear bent and in a casual position, as if in mid discussion. A boy kneels next to him, holding a sledge and purse with a key. The granite pedestal which holds this sculpture has a different message inscribed, ” THE VOICE OF REASON IS MORE TO BE REGARDED/THAN THE BENT OF ANY PRESENT INCLINATION”.

The memorial was authorized in 1927, but not realized until 1947. As the plaque adjacent to the fountain describes, the memorial was dedicated to Straus in 1947 by President Harry S. Truman. It had been disassembled and placed in storage in 1991 for the construction of the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center. It was then reinstalled using almost entirely original materials and rededicated in October of 1998.

Oscar Solomon Straus was born in 1850 and when he came to this country settled in Georgia before moving to New York in 1865. He was accomplished in academia, holding degrees at Columbia University, Brown University, Washington and Lee, and the University of Pennsylvania. Straus went onto practice law and then held many government and civic positions under five different presidents. He died suddenly in 1926 after a long life of accomplishments.

The sculptor, Adolph Alexander Weinman, was born in Germany and came to the United States of America in the 1880s. He studied at Copper Union and the Arts Students League in New York. He then worked with a number of notable studios and sculptors after his studies. They include the studio of Philip Martiny, Olin H. Warner, Augustus Saint-Gaudens, and finally Charles Neihaus before he joined in a partnership with another reputable American sculptor, Daniel Chester French. While Weinman won several important sculptural commissions within the United States, he is most known for the Winged Head Liberty Dime and the Walking Liberty Half Dollar.

The Oscar S. Straus Memorial Fountain can be viewed day or night in front of the Ronald Reagan Federal Building and International Trade Center on the 14th Street entrance.

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