Forest Park in St. Louis, Missouri — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)
Apotheosis of St. Louis, 1904-1906
W. R. Hodges after a design by Charles Henry Niehaus
— Bronze and Limestone —
Photographed By Thomas Smith, September 6, 2021
1. Apotheosis of St. Louis, 1904-1906 Marker
This large sculpture portrays King Louie IX of France [1214-70], the namesake of the City of St. Louis, as a Christian soldier. His "apotheosis' or ascendance to the divine realm is suggested by the sword in the form of a cross and the energetic stance of his horse. Louis' costume is decorated with the fleur-de-lis, the symbol of the French monarchy, Charles Henry Niehaus captured the essence of the King and his legend rather than historical facts. The sword, for example, is a type not use until the 16th century, the edging of Louis' cape is purely fanciful.
Niehaus, an Ohioan, designed the original plaster sculpture, one of seven statues that adorned the grounds of the 1904 Louisiana Purchase Exposition, also known as the World's Fair. It stood at the fair's main entrance, near the current site of Missouri History Museum. After the fair closed, members of the Exposition Committee selected this statue to cast in bronze and permanent gift to the city. Niehaus was asked to do this job but the price was too high. Anxious to have the " Apotheosis of St. Louis" fabricated and in place before too much time elapsed, the committee contracted St. Louisan W. R. Hodges to cast the sculpture at a considerably lower price. In spite of protest by Niehaus and others, the sculpture was moved to its current site and dedicated with great
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Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Arts, Letters, Music. A significant historical year for this entry is 1906.
Location. 38° 38.391′ N, 90° 17.645′ W. Marker is in St. Louis, Missouri. It is in Forest Park. Marker is at the intersection of Fine Arts Drive and Government Drive, on the right when traveling west on Fine Arts Drive. The statue stands in front of St. Louis Art Museum. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1 Fine Arts Dr, Saint Louis MO 63110, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Giant Three-Way Plug, Scale A, 1970-1971 (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); Saint Louis Art Museum (about 700 feet away); Friedrich Ludwig Jahn (approx. 0.2 miles away); The Grand Basin (approx. ¼ mile away); Grizzly Bear (approx. 0.3 miles away); Saint Louis Zoo 2004: Gateway to the Animal World (approx. 0.3 miles away); Now and Then: Where You Can Find Bears (approx. 0.3 miles away); a different marker also named Grizzly Bear (approx. 0.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in St. Louis.
Photographed By Thomas Smith, September 6, 2021
2. Apotheosis of St. Louis, 1904-1906 Marker
Photographed By Thomas Smith, September 6, 2021
3. Apotheosis of St. Louis, 1904-1906 Marker
Jessie Tarbox Beals (courtesy of the St. Louis Public Library), 1904
4. Statue of Louis IX of France, Louisiana Purchase Exposition
"The Apotheosis of St. Louis, the equestrian statue of Louis IX, King of France and patron saint of the city of St. Louis, was situated at the Plaza of St. Louis at the Louisiana Purchase Exposition -- the 1904 St. Louis World's Fair. Constructed by sculptor Charles H. Niehaus of reinforced plaster for the exposition, it later was cast in bronze and placed on Art Hill in Forest Park before the St. Louis Art Museum. "
Credits. This page was last revised on January 30, 2023. It was originally submitted on September 7, 2021, by Thomas Smith of Waterloo, Ill. This page has been viewed 234 times since then and 52 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on September 7, 2021, by Thomas Smith of Waterloo, Ill. 4. submitted on September 8, 2021. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.
