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Image
Photo CreditCarol M. Highsmith Photography
Law
Photo CreditCarol M. Highsmith Photography

Law

Artist
Year1941
Classification sculpture
Medium Indiana limestone on black granite pedestal
Dimensionssculpture: 102 × 24 × 24 in. (259.1 × 61 × 61 cm)
Other (base): 24 1/2 × 25 × 25 in. (62.2 × 63.5 × 63.5 cm)
Credits Commissioned through the Section of Fine Arts, 1934 - 1943
Fine Arts Collection
U.S. General Services Administration
Location
  • Carved from one block of Indiana limestone, primarily by hand.  The figure weighs between 2 and 2-1/2 tons.   Garner said of the work:  "It was my desire to express in this figure the conception of law as the friend and protector of the people, the law of democracy as opposed to the arbitrary, oppresive law of other forms of government.  For this reason I used a female figure with flowing, gentle curves.  Yet I wanted the feeling of the whole composition to be strong, firm, and direct, hence its massiveness and simplicity.  The hand indicating the tablet is open in the position of offering to the appeal of reason not pointing in stern command in the Mosaic tradition.  In the head I have tried to combine solid strength with compassion."  Garner inscribed on the tablet which the figure holds a quotation on the law by Abraham Lincoln "No law is stronger than is the public sentiment where it is to be enforced."