Statue of Poe by Moses Ezekiel — Original Model

This photograph shows the original, full-sized model used for the statue. The statue itself was cast in bronze, while the base was molded in concrete. The inscriptions were carved separately and pressed into the concrete base. Early photographs, in the collection of the Maryland Historical Society, clearly show that the statue was first modeled in the nude. (One picture shows the statue with a towel placed judiciously across its lap.) Clothing was then applied over this, giving a true sense of a human form beneath it. This approach was apparently a common artistic practice for Mozes Ezekiel, who was well trained in classical techniques.