Eagle of Preparedness

Paul Wayland Bartlett, Eagle of Preparedness, 1916, bronze, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Mrs. Armistead Peter III, 1958.11.18
Copied Paul Wayland Bartlett, Eagle of Preparedness, 1916, bronze, 12 1⁄4 x 4 1⁄2 x 4 1⁄2 in. (31.2 x 11.3 x 11.3 cm), Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Mrs. Armistead Peter III, 1958.11.18
Free to use

Artwork Details

Title
Eagle of Preparedness
Artist
Date
1916
Location
Not on view
Dimensions
12 1⁄4 x 4 1⁄2 x 4 1⁄2 in. (31.2 x 11.3 x 11.3 cm)
Credit Line
Gift of Mrs. Armistead Peter III
Mediums
Mediums Description
bronze
Classifications
Subjects
  • Allegory — quality — fortitude
  • Allegory — civic — war
  • Animal — bird — eagle
Object Number
1958.11.18
Linked Open Data
https://edan.si.edu/saam/id/object/1958.11.18

Artwork Description

Paul Wayland Bartlett created Eagle of Preparedness in 1916, soon after the British ship Lusitania was sunk by the Germans. This event sparked a crusade for military “preparedness” in America, as many people realized that entry into World War I was inevitable. With his Eagle, Bartlett showed his support for the Allied cause and the movement to rearm.