Daniel Chester French (American, 1850–1931)
Truth
INV-1025
Daniel Chester French (American, 1850–1931)1900
sculptureamerican arts
Date
1900
Medium
Plaster
Dimensions
147.1 × 53.4 × 40.7 cm (57 7/8 × 21 × 16 in.)
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Location
Chicago, IL
Credit
Purchased with funds provided by Brooks McCormick; Ethyl T. Scarborough Endowment
In 1898 Daniel Chester French was commissioned to create six allegorical figures representing Bounty, Courage, Integrity, Prudence, Truth, and Wisdom, for the facade of the Minnesota State Capitol Building, in Saint Paul. This plaster statue is a working model and is half the size of the marble figure that appears, paired with Integrity. In his portrayal of Truth, French used symbols drawn from classical and Renaissance sources. The mirror she holds reflects life without illusions; her partial nudity alludes to the nature of truth.
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