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Gutzon Borglum — John A. Sutter
Gutzon Borglum

John A. Sutter

1939

This bronze portrait statue depicts John A. Sutter, the Swiss-born pioneer and founder of Sutter's Fort, rendered in a confident standing pose wearing period dress including a wide-brimmed hat and long coat. Sculpted by the renowned American artist Gutzon Borglum in 1939, the figure stands atop a substantial granite base with an inscribed plaque, positioned prominently against the modern architecture of the historic park. The dark patina of the bronze contrasts dramatically with the light stone pedestal and surrounding contemporary buildings, creating a striking monument to early California settlement and commerce. Borglum's characteristic attention to portraiture and heroic scale elevates this work beyond simple commemoration, capturing the determination and vision of a historical figure central to Sacramento's founding. Photo by User:Ronbo76 on Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.5)

Medium
Bronze portrait statue on granite base

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About this work

Gutzon Borglum, John A. Sutter, 1939

This bronze portrait statue depicts John A. Sutter, the Swiss-born pioneer and founder of Sutter's Fort, rendered in a confident standing pose wearing period dress including a wide-brimmed hat and long coat. Sculpted by the renowned American artist Gutzon Borglum in 1939, the figure stands atop a substantial granite base with an inscribed plaque, positioned prominently against the modern architecture of the historic park. The dark patina of the bronze contrasts dramatically with the light stone pedestal and surrounding contemporary buildings, creating a striking monument to early California settlement and commerce. Borglum's characteristic attention to portraiture and heroic scale elevates this work beyond simple commemoration, capturing the determination and vision of a historical figure central to Sacramento's founding. Photo by User:Ronbo76 on Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.5)

Medium
Bronze portrait statue on granite base
Year
1939
Seen at
Sutter's Fort State Historic Park, Sacramento, CA

Related themes

Figurative Sculpture, Public Monument, Twentieth Century, Bronze Sculpture, Memorial Sculpture, Sacramento California, Historic Landmark, Public Art, Historical Figure, Narrative Monument, State Historic Park, Standing Figure, American History, Outdoor Monument, Pioneer History, Portrait Statue, Granite Base, Western Americana, Monumental Art

More works by Gutzon Borglum

Collected by

Cleveland Museum of Art