Visits to Three Equestrian Monuments in New Orleans: A Review

New Orleans is a city of great variety and history. In this piece we will share descriptions of the aesthetic attributes of three equestrian monuments located in New Orleans - G.T. Beauregard, Andrew Jackson, and Joan of Arc. So let's begin!

The first equestrian monument that I visited was that of G.T. Beauregard, at the entrance to City Park. This monument is placed high on a stone pedestal, and is slightly larger-than-life. The statue has two main colors-a greenish blue color and black. This is probably a result of oxidation and the patina shows these chemical effects. The sculpture is one of a horse walking in a slow gait, with the General above him. The horse is raising its right front leg and has its head bowed down and ears pointed up. There are all the accoutrements of a horse rider featured on this horse-reins, stirrup, and saddle. The horse appears strong with well-defined muscles showing in the hind legs.

This monument evokes a feeling of respect for General Beauregard. The general looks confident; he's holding the reins with one hand and his other hand is tucked in his jacket. He's stocky and looks realistic. He is wearing many layers of clothing. He has a jacket and a hat, along with a uniform underneath. He has a gun inside a sheath on his side.

After completing my analysis of the Beauregard monument I headed to the French Quarter, where I first visited Jackson Square. The Andrew Jackson equestrian monument is located in the middle of a beautiful park, high above the surrounding area. Upon seeing this monument one quickly notices how different it looks from the Beauregard monument. This statue shows a horse standing on two legs and Andrew Jackson on top. The horse is on top of rugged terrain, unlike the Beauregard monument. This monument is clearer than the Beauregard monument because there isn't any visible deterioration of the statue. The horse looks like it's neighing and has flaring nostrils. The whole statue appears in a state of motion, airborne and poised for attack. It appears that the sculptor wanted to portray Andrew Jackson as triumphant and brave, because of his confident face. Jackson is holding his hat up high in his right hand as if he's saluting. He has a sword in a sheath at his side. His head seems to be proportionally smaller compared to the horse than that of Beauregard.

There are many details on this statue that give the monument a realistic appearance. The horse has veins showing on his legs. The mane of the horse looks very lifelike, and naturalistic with deep cresses and lines. Like the Beauregard monument the horse in this statue has many accoutrements. It has the stirrups, saddle, and reins. There are subtle details like stars on the saddle and stirrup. It also has spurs, unlike Beauregard's horse. The horse's tail is flying behind in the air, which signifies the idea that the horse is in quick motion. Compared to the Beauregard monument, the horse's face looks more stylized. The poise of the horse is more unrealistic than that of Beauregard's.

The last equestrian monument that I visited was the Monument to Joan of Arc, in the French Quarter. This monument immediately looks very different from the previous two. It's different because it shows a woman and is covered with shiny gold. It also shows a different poise than the previous two. The monument is also located in a more bustling area than the previous two monuments. There is traffic all around the monument and many people walk past it. The horse and Joan of Arc look victorious because Joan is holding up high a flag of France.

Joan is staring forward with a determined look. Her back is arched slightly backwards. Unlike the previous two horses, this horse has armor on its head. Joan of Arc is also covered with armor, unlike Jackson and Beauregard. She also has a small sword on her left side, and she's wearing a wreath on top of tied hair. On her foot is a pointed boot. Compared to the previous two monuments, this one looks much different, because it's an image from the medieval period. The horse appears to be trotting briskly in this monument. The horse's mouth is open and its ears are raised. Its left leg and hind right leg is slightly raised, and its tail is tied up in a knot. The noble beast looks muscular with its head pointed downwards. It's also interesting to note that this horse is a female, unlike the previous two. This monument is smaller than the previous two and the pedestal is simpler with a rectangular base and trapezoidal sides.

All three of these monuments show equestrian monuments, but they are all unique. Each one of them shows a different perspective and position. They all differ in their appearance, style, proportions, and color. The two that were the most similar were the Andrew Jackson monument and the Beauregard monument. They were both from the Civil War era, but they differ in their style and appearance. The Joan of Arc monument was also interesting to view, because it was so different from the previous two.