Location:
Bluff Balustrade at the intersection of Peoples and Broadway streets Purpose: Commissioned by Daughters of the Confederacy in 1914. Description: "King Neptune and Mother Earth hold a crown above an allegorical female (representing the city of Corpus Christi), who carries a bouquet of flowers and the keys of success. Nary a soldier is to be seen. A ship under full sail is carved behind Neptune, while a plowman tills the soil behind Mother Earth." ("Monuments and Statues") Artists Inspiration: Also, it mentions how Coppini planned on using the sculpture to showcase the reunited South and North, while also exhibiting the "passion of the people of Corpus Christ for their beautiful city." Personal Response I originally chose this sculpture because I was fascinated with the images that I knew symbolized something, however at the time I did not know of what they meant. This lack of knowledge inspired me to want to learn more about the man and the two woman portrayed in the sculpture. I wondered what they stood for. I was shocked to not that they represented aspects of our nation during its time of healing after the Civil War. The beautiful depiction also shows Corpus' community identity through a ship ( our port and sea business), a gear (industry), and our connection to marine life (fish). This is my personal interpretation of the piece. Furthermore, the knowledge of the prestigious background of the sculptor gives me pride for our city to know that part of such an amazing person has been preserved in our city. |
Corpus Christi Vertical Files There is an abundant amount of information about Coppini's life within documents found in the vertical files. Coppini has a rich history that can be traced globally around the world. His impact as an artist is shown through this piece that so completely describes our city's local identity while connecting it to a major event in our nation's past. Corpus Christi Historical Connection
According to the book, Sacred Memories: The Civil War Monument Movement in Texas by Kelly McMichael, this monument happens to be the first piece of public art displayed in Corpus Christi Texas. Its unveiling ceremony in 1915, included "speeches and songs, and as an added treat, city officials hired an opera singer to thrill the crowd with the 'Star Spangled Banner', as noted in the aforementioned book. This marks not only a big part of Corpus' art community, but is also a major aspect in its local history. |
"Queen of the Sea"
By Pompeo Coppini
"fountain portrays heroic allegorical figures which tell in true artistic language, of the meeting of the two elements (land and sea), and the rich gifts which they bring to the city lying between." - written by Pompeo Coppini as stated in the book Sacred Memories: The Civil War Monument Movement in Texas by Kelly McMichael
Photo by Ken Rudine