Franz Schubert (1891)

by Henry Baerer (1837 - 1908)

Photo Caption: Photo Caitlin Martin © 2010 for the Association for Public Art
Horticulture Center grounds (Belmont Avenue and North Horticultural Drive, West Fairmount Park)
1891

  • Title

    Franz Schubert

  • Artist

    Henry Baerer (1837 - 1908)

  • Year

    1891

  • Medium

    Bronze, on limestone base

  • Dimensions

    Height 4’3″ (base 10’8″)

Gift of the United German Singers of Philadelphia to the City of Philadelphia

Owned by the City of Philadelphia


Museum Without Walls Audio

0:00/ 0:00

Download Museum Without Walls audio file

At A Glance

  • Please note: hours of operation for the Horticulture Center grounds are Monday-Sunday, 9am-5pm

  • Part of the Museum Without Walls™: AUDIO program

  • Awarded to the United German Singers of Philadelphia at the 16th National Saengerfest

  • Schubert was known as a writer of songs, including his famous composition “Ave Maria”

Throughout the 19th century, Philadelphia’s German singing societies would participate in singing competitions. In 1891, the United German Singers of Philadelphia won the 16th Annual National Saengerfest held in Newark, New Jersey.

Schubert was known as a writer of songs. Among Schubert’s famous compositions are “Ave Maria.”

The grand prize was the bust of Austrian composer Franz Schubert (1797-1828), which the singing society gave to the City of Philadelphia. The sculpture was installed in West Fairmount Park and dedicated and unveiled on December 7, 1891. In 1906, the group gifted the bust of Joseph Haydn to the City, which was installed nearby.

Schubert was known as a writer of songs. Among Schubert’s famous compositions are “Ave Maria.” The Pair of Lions installed next to the bust were given to Fairmount Park  by Henry Lisle Waln in 1891.

Henry Baerer was in born in Kirchhain, Kurhessen, Germany in 1837. He came to the United States in 1854 but later returned to Germany to study at the Royal Academy in Munich. He died in the Bronx, NY in 1908.

Henry Baerer's Franz Schubert near the Horticulture Center
Photo Caitlin Martin © 2013 for the Association for Public Art

 

RESOURCES:

 

Voices heard in the program:

David Kim is Concertmaster and solo violinist with the Philadelphia Orchestra. He is a renowned teacher who presents master classes world-wide. Kim also works with youth to cultivate future audiences for classical music.

Hardy von Auenmueller is Chairman of the Board of The German Society of Pennsylvania, founded in 1764 to assist German immigrants. Today the organization furthers the understanding of German and German-American contributions to American history and culture.

Richard N. Juliani is a historian who has studied immigration and ethnic life, with a focus on the Italian American experience. He is the author of The Social Organization of Immigration: The Italians in Philadelphia.

Segment Producer: Jonathan Mitchell

A program of the Association for Public Art (formerly the Fairmount Park Art Association), Museum Without Walls: AUDIO is an innovative and accessible outdoor sculpture audio program for Philadelphia’s preeminent collection of public art.

User calls Museum Without Walls Audio for Robert Indiana's LOVE sculpture
Photo Albert Yee © 2010 for the Association for Public Art

A “multi-platform” interactive audio experience – available for free by cell phone, mobile app, or on our website – Museum Without Walls: AUDIO offers the unique histories that are not typically expressed on outdoor permanent signage.

Unlike audio tours that have a single authoritative guide or narrator, each speaker featured in Museum Without Walls: AUDIO is an “authentic voice” – someone who is connected to the sculpture by knowledge, experience, or affiliation.

Over 150 unique voices are featured, including artists, educators, scientists, writers, curators, civic leaders, and historians.

LEARN MORE >>

 

This artwork is part of the Around the Horticulture Center tour

Loading map...

More artworks

Need More Information?

General Inquiries

info@associationforpublicart.org or call 215.546.7550