Statue of Elizabeth and Joseph E. Brown

Joseph E. Brown was an American politician who was active during the 19th century.^[1] He served multiple terms as the governor of Georgia, as well as a member of the United States Senate from Georgia and as a chief justice for the Supreme Court of Georgia.^[2] In 1861, Brown helped to coordinate the state's secession from the United States, and he served as governor during the American Civil War.^[1] As a politician, he supported racial segregation and voter suppression that targeted African Americans.^[3] Additionally, he was a supporter of the Ku Klux Klan.^[3] He died in 1894.^[1] In the early 20th century, his son, Joseph Mackey Brown, served for several years as governor.^[1]

Another of Brown's sons, Julius E., allocated funds for the creation of a public monument honoring his father and mother, Elizabeth Grisham, in his will.^[2][1][4] In 1925, the Georgia General Assembly accepted the offer, allowing a statue to be erected on the grounds of the Georgia State Capitol.^[1] In their acceptance, the legislature gave the executor of Julius's estate control over the design and erection of the monument.^[1] A commission for the monument was won by sculptor Giuseppe Moretti,^[2] who had previously designed the Vulcan statue in Birmingham, Alabama.^[4] Moretti was assisted in his work on the piece by I. D. Dumley.^[5] The monument was one of two to be approved by the General Assembly for erection on the capitol grounds in the 1920s, alongside a statue of Thomas E. Watson.^{[1][note 1]}

The monument was dedicated on October 27, 1928,^[1][2][5] in a ceremony attended by Joseph Mackey.^[4] At the time of its unveiling, it was the second major monument located on the capitol grounds,^[1] after an equestrian statue of John Brown Gordon that had been dedicated in 1907.^[3][6]

In 1993, the monument was surveyed as part of the Save Outdoor Sculpture! program.^[5] As of 2023, the monument features the only full-body statue of an actual woman on the capitol grounds.^[7]

The monument, located to the southwest of the capitol building,^[1] consists of a bronze sculpture atop a marble platform.^[5] The sculpture is 7 feet 7 inches (2.31 meters) tall and has area measurements of 5 ft (1.5 m) by 37 in (0.94 m).^[5] The base has a height of 2 ft 6 in (0.76 m) and covers a square area with side measurements of 20 ft (6.1 m).^[5] The sculpture features Elizabeth seated in a chair with a tall backrest.^[5] She has a book in her lap, with the hands folded on top.^[5] To her left is Joseph, standing, with his right hand on her shoulders.^[5] He is holding a scroll in his right hand.^[5] Joseph is wearing a suit, with a coat draped over his arm,^[2] while Elizabeth is wearing a shawl.^[5]

The sculpture features a signature from the sculptor ("G. Moretti") and engravings on the bronze base depicting the Seal of Georgia and scenes from the Battle of Dug Gap and the Battle of Kennesaw Mountain.^[5] Another side includes biographical information on Elizabeth and Joseph.^[5]

• 1928 in art
• List of Confederate monuments and memorials in Georgia
• List of public art in Atlanta