The statue depicts Washington dressed in breeches with an apron and medallion decorated with Masonic symbols. Washington holds a tri-cornered hat in the crook of his proper left arm, and a gavel in his proper right hand. He wears an open overcoat with buttons and has a short podium to his proper right. Washington's attire depicts the first President as he may have looked when he laid the cornerstone for the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C.[3] The sculpture is mounted upon a stepped, inscribed granite base.
The base of the sculpture is inscribed with the following:
Northwest corner of sculpture: Donald De Lue Sc. 1959
Northeast corner of sculpture, east side, lower rear: The Modern Art Foundry, Inc. (Foundry mark) 1986 New York, New York
Front/south side of base: GEORGE WASHINGTON PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES/1789-1797; First in War, First in Peace, First in the Hearts of His Countrymen
West side of base: Observe good faith and justice toward all nations. Cultivate peace and/harmony with all. Religion and/morality enjoin this conduct./George Washington
East side of base: My attachment to the Society of which we are members will dispose me to contribute my best endeavors to promote the honor and interests of the Craft./ George Washington, Freemason 1753–1799
North side of base: (Masonic symbol, square and compass) Presented to the People of Indiana From the Freesmasons of Indiana/George Washington Commission/The Grand Lodge Free and Accepted Masons of the State of Indiana/May 19, 1987
The dimensions of the statue are as follows: 9 feet 4 inches (2.84 meters) by 46 inches (120 centimeters) x 36 inches (91 centimeters). The total weight of the statue is 900 pounds (410 kilograms). The granite base is 5 feet (1.5 meters) tall and weighs approximately 9 short tons (8.2 metric tons). The Statehouse's version of De Lue's bronze statue was a gift of the Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of Indiana, dedicated May 19, 1987.[2] This statue appeared at similar Masonic monuments in the following locations:
A Smithsonian's Save Outdoor Sculpture survey completed in October 1992 noted the condition as 'well-maintained'.[3]
Historical information
George Washington as Master Mason was sculpted initially from a wax mold at Donald De Lue's studio in Leonardo, New Jersey, and copyrighted in 1959. This sculpture was re-cast in 1986 and dedicated May 19, 1987 by the grand master of the Freemasons of Indiana, J.C. Paxton of Warsaw, Indiana. The total cost of the gift was $100,000.[2] Lieutenant Governor John Mutz accepted the statue on behalf of the state.[2]George Washington as Master Mason was inspired by sculptor Bryant Baker's work, Illustrious Brother George Washington, which also depicts the subject in a similar pose with Masonic iconography.