Gettysburg Sculptures

Donald Harcourt De Lue with his wife Naomi Cross De Lue in front of the Louisiana State Memorial c1971.

The project to design and build a memorial to the Louisiana troops that fought at Gettysburg began in May 1966. The Louisiana Chapter of the United Daughters of the Confederacy and Sons of Confederate Veterans would approach the state legislature in December of 1966 in regards to the project. In May 1967 the Louisiana Gettysburg Memorial Commission was authorized to continue and Katherine V. Letteer was selected as chairman. Angela Gregory, a New Orleans sculptor, was appointed as professional consultant and guided the selection of twenty-four qualified sculptors. The design committee then chose three sculptors by ballot from that list to submit  scale models.

Donald De Lue, one of the three selected sculptors, was well known not only for his meticulous preparation but also the committee was aware of his Soldier and Sailors of the Confederacy Memorial previously dedicated at Gettysburg. (See Soldier and Sailors of the Confederacy tab at right)

A pencil sketch of Peace and Memory prepared by De Lue in 1968.

De Lue was selected by the committee as the winner on October 16, 1968.

De Lue presented to the Louisiana Gettysburg Memorial Commission a clay maquette approximately 46" tall of the memorial. The original design incorporated an artillery rammer. This was to honor the Louisiana artilleryman associated with the Washington Artillery Battalion that participated in the battle.

The sponge of the rammer rests along the right shoulder of the artilleryman and his hand lies along the shaft. However, the rammer would be removed from the final memorial.   

De Lue completed a one third size bronze of the female figure "Spirit Triumphant" in July 1969. The final memorial and full size bronze casting was dedicated in June 1971 at Gettysburg. This impressive memorial stands nearly 22 feet in height.

The scale model of "Spirit Triumphant"  above was used by the sculptor to model the full size memorial at Gettysburg.

Above is the gravestone of the De Lue's. They now rest in Old Bridge, New Jersey.

The bronze relief "Naomi it is time to go" on the front of the gravestone was created by De Lue to honor his wife Naomi. It was to illustrate his belief in death as a transition.

A "Ghost Story" if you wish.

Naomi would pass in September 1982. About a month later, De Lue while walking along the ocean near his home in Leonardo, New Jersey would see a crowd enjoying a local celebration. Suddenly he became aware of the presence of his wife Naomi beside him taking his arm. A lady with a dog came out of the crowd and said to him, "Mr. De Lue, are you aware that your wife is walking with you?" He assured her that he was aware. The three of them walked and talked together until a voice was heard to say, 

"Naomi, its time to go"

 The bronze relief on their headstone created by De Lue depicts an angel gently enfolding Naomi with his wings and then carries her off. De Lue would then incise into the relief those words he heard as he walked along the beach that day with Naomi.

Flowers adorn the Louisiana Memorial as Gov. John J. McKeithen stands in front of the newly unveiled memorial.

Circa 1971 postcard of the Louisiana Memorial soon after its dedication. A pathway (now gone) leads to the memorial. In the background can be the Stuckey's Pecan Shop opened in August of 1955.

Enlargement showing the Stuckey's Pecan Shop in the background.

The Stuckey's Pecan Shop was located at the northwest corner of the intersection of the Emmitsburg Road and Millerstown (Wheatfield) Road.

 Many of the photographs and excerpts used in the De Lue pages of this site are either from my personal collection or from the amazing book: The Sculpture of Donald DeLue Gods, Prophets and Heros by D. Roger Howlett published by David R. Godine, Boston 1990. This wonderful work documents the life of De Lue. It is full of wonderful images of De Lue's works and sketches. Without question, this book has made me more aware of De Lue's style and his often misunderstood work. I would urge any student to acquire this book.