Billy

Albert Laessle, Billy, 1914, bronze, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of the heirs of Albert Laessle: Mrs. Albertine de Bempt Laessle, Mr. Albert M. Laessle and Mr. Paul Laessle, 1971.123
Albert Laessle, Billy, 1914, bronze, 24 3⁄4 x 9 1⁄4 x 36 1⁄8 in. (62.9 x 23.4 x 91.9 cm), Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of the heirs of Albert Laessle: Mrs. Albertine de Bempt Laessle, Mr. Albert M. Laessle and Mr. Paul Laessle, 1971.123

Artwork Details

Title
Billy
Artist
Date
1914
Location
Dimensions
24 3⁄4 x 9 1⁄4 x 36 1⁄8 in. (62.9 x 23.4 x 91.9 cm)
Credit Line
Gift of the heirs of Albert Laessle: Mrs. Albertine de Bempt Laessle, Mr. Albert M. Laessle and Mr. Paul Laessle
Mediums
Mediums Description
bronze
Classifications
Subjects
  • Animal — goat
Object Number
1971.123
Linked Open Data
https://edan.si.edu/saam/id/object/1971.123

Artwork Description

Billy memorializes a popular billy goat from a petting zoo in Philadelphia's Rittenhouse Square. The gentle animal let children ride him around the park and quickly became a popular attraction. Albert Laessle spent a lot of time sketching Billy's every detail, including his bristling back, which was eventually "worn smooth by many a rider" (Grafly, "Beauty and Humor in Animal Sculpture of Albert Laessle," Christian Science Monitor, February 20, 1922).

Works by this artist (13 items)

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Michael P. Smith, Untitled, 1968-1983, gelatin silver print, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Transfer from the National Endowment for the Arts, 1983.63.1275, © The Historic New Orleans Collection
Untitled
Artist
Date1968-1983
gelatin silver print
Not on view
Michael P. Smith, Untitled, ca. 1968-1983, gelatin silver print, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Transfer from the National Endowment for the Arts, 1983.63.1270, © The Historic New Orleans Collection
Untitled
Artist
Dateca. 1968-1983
gelatin silver print
Not on view
Michael P. Smith, Entering the "liquid grave", 1973, gelatin silver print, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Transfer from the National Endowment for the Arts, 1983.63.1268, © The Historic New Orleans Collection
Entering the ​“liquid grave”
Artist
Date1973
gelatin silver print
Not on view
Michael P. Smith, Baptism, Beauty of Holiness Church of the Lord God in Creation/"Reborn in the Name of Jesus," Beauty of Holiness Church, 1974, gelatin silver print, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Transfer from the National Endowment for the Arts, 1983.63.1274, © The Historic New Orleans Collection
Baptism, Beauty of Holiness Church of the Lord God in…
Artist
Date1974
gelatin silver print
Not on view

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Bently
Artist
Dateca. 1975
gelatin silver print
Not on view
Eugene Von Bruenchenhein, Untitled, ca. 1945-1950, gelatin silver print, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Lewis and Jean Greenblatt, 2002.86.9
Untitled
Artist
Dateca. 1945-1950
gelatin silver print
Not on view
Eugene Von Bruenchenhein, Untitled, ca. 1945-1950, gelatin silver print, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Lewis and Jean Greenblatt, 2002.86.7
Untitled
Artist
Dateca. 1945-1950
gelatin silver print
Not on view
Jared French, Margaret French, PaJaMa, Paul Cadmus, PaJaMa (Box A), ca. 1937, gelatin silver prints, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Bequest of Margaret French, 1999.98.5.16
PaJaMa (Box A)
Artist
Dateca. 1937
gelatin silver prints
Not on view