Semper Fidelis is a photograph by Douglas Taylor which was uploaded on November 10th, 2021.
Semper Fidelis
The superb Marine Corps War Memorial commemorates all of the U.S. Marines who have served, and died, in the defense of their country since... more
Buy the Original Photograph
Price
$195
Dimensions
30.000 x 51.500 inches
This original photograph is currently for sale. At the present time, originals are not offered for sale through the Pixels Merch secure checkout system. Please contact the artist directly to inquire about purchasing this original.
Click here to contact the artist.
Title
Semper Fidelis
Artist
Douglas Taylor
Medium
Photograph - Fine Art Digital Photographic Collage
Description
The superb Marine Corps War Memorial commemorates all of the U.S. Marines who have served, and died, in the defense of their country since 1775.
The giant statue was inspired by the iconic photograph of U.S. Marines raising the American flag at the summit of Mount Suribachi on Iwo Jima by Joseph Rosenthal, taken February 23rd, 1945. Rosenthal’s photograph would become one of the most famous photographs of the 20th century, and earned him the Pulitzer Prize for 1945.
Artist and sculptor Felix de Weldon was so inspired upon seeing this photograph on the front pages of newspapers over the following days that he created a scale model, or “maquette” of the sculpture over a single weekend at the Patuxent River Naval Air Station where he was serving in the Navy during the conflict. Such was the emotional spirit of the times for this young man who had fled the Nazi occupation of his native Austria just prior to the start of the war.
De Weldon’s extraordinary recreation was eventually chosen to be the focal point of the Marine Corps War Memorial in 1951, and he spent three painstaking years creating the colossal master model with figures 32 feet tall. Cast in bronze, the statue was then erected atop architect Horace W. Peaslee’s design for the base.
This base is faced with exquisite and polished black diabase granite and has inscribed in east side of the base "In Honor And Memory Of The Men Of The United States Marine Corps Who Have Given Their Lives To Their Country Since 10 November 1775". Around the top of the base is a litany of conflicts fought by the Marines for our country, starting with the Revolutionary War and (hopefully) ending with Iraq in 2003.
The west side of the memorial has an inscribed wreath. Prominent within this wreath are the words "Uncommon Valor Was A Common Virtue", with the Marines motto “Semper Fidelis” inscribed in the wreath’s ribbon. De Weldon and Rosenthal’s names are also inscribed here.
From this hill overlooking Washington, D.C. across the Potomac River one can gaze upon the memorials along the National Mall and see the dome of the U.S. Capitol rising in the distance. And from here one can reflect on the great distance between those times and great men memorialized at this magnificent monument, and differences that afflict our country today.
Uploaded
November 10th, 2021
More from Douglas Taylor
Comments (7)
Samuel HUYNH 29 Days Ago
Exciting news – Your fantastic artwork has been featured in "GREATEST OF ALL TIME" group! 🌈🎨 Feel free to spread the joy by adding it to our "2024 Featured Masterpieces Archive" in the Discussion section.
Constance Lowery 29 Days Ago
fantastic photography and presentation. L/F/Pin
Douglas Taylor replied:
Thank you for your enthusiastic compliments, Constance! Greatly appreciated.
Laurel Adams
Douglas, CONGRATULATIONS! Your work has been featured in the Home Page of The ARTIST BUZzz Group! You are cordially invited to POST image embed links for this distinction to the #8. GAs Features Archive Thread in the discussion tab. Thank you for your glimpse of beauty!
Cyril Jayant
“ 'STREET AND SOCIAL DOCUMENTARY' GROUP'”. Congratulations! your fabulous art work has been selected as featured on our Homepage of our “'STREET AND SOCIAL DOCUMENTARY' GROUP'“group. Thank you for adding this selected work in the discussion thread for Archive purposes under Featured thread. (using “Embed” link by copy paste on your page ) Cheers!!! —Cyril