Thomas Ball
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Thomas Ball (1819-1911) was an American sculptor best known for his Emancipation Memorial (1876) in Washington, D.C., depicting Abraham Lincoln standing over a kneeling freed slave. Born in Charlestown, Massachusetts, he worked in Florence for many years.
The Emancipation Memorial, funded by formerly enslaved people, has become controversial for its depiction of the freed man in a kneeling position. Ball also created equestrian statues of George Washington and Daniel Webster.
Sculptures by Thomas Ball
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Museums with Thomas Ball's Work
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About Thomas Ball
Ball created the Emancipation Memorial (1876) in Washington, D.C., showing Lincoln with a freed slave. The monument, funded by formerly enslaved people, has become a subject of ongoing debate about its imagery.
The Emancipation Memorial is in Lincoln Park, Washington, D.C. A replica stands in Boston's Park Square. Other works are at the Boston Public Garden.
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