Rudolph P. Evans (American, 1878–1960)
George Washington
Marble
Height: 59½ in.
Signed at the base: “R. Evans.”
This stately marble sculpture by Rudolph Evans presents an idealized portrayal of George Washington, embodying both classical restraint and patriotic reverence. Depicted in military attire with calm dignity, Washington rests one hand upon a fasces—an ancient Roman symbol of civic authority and unity—underscoring his dual identity as soldier and statesman. The finely carved drapery and balanced stance reflect Evans’s academic training and his commitment to clarity of form and historical accuracy.
Rudolph Evans studied at the Corcoran School of Art and the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris, later becoming one of America’s foremost neoclassical sculptors. His most celebrated work is the monumental bronze statue of Thomas Jefferson in the Jefferson Memorial (1947) in Washington, D.C. This marble figure of Washington exemplifies the artist’s enduring engagement with the nation’s founding ideals, translating Enlightenment virtues into sculptural grace.
Provenance: The Marshall B. Coyne Collection; Sotheby’s, New York, June 6, 2001, lot 123.
Marshall B. Coyne (1918–2000)—a prominent Washington, D.C. hotelier and philanthropist—assembled a distinguished private collection of fine art and American historical artifacts, reflecting both his entrepreneurial spirit and his devotion to the nation’s cultural heritage.
