Bronze Benjamin Harrison, one hand upraised and the other holding gloves, greets you here in University Park in downtown Indianapolis. This is a work designed by Henry Bacon, sculpted by Charles Henry Niehaus, and cast by the Gorham Manufacturing Company. It honors Benjamin Harrison, the 23rd president of the United States and the only U.S. president from Indiana.
The statue was dedicated on October 27, 1908, after funds were partially raised at a benefit at the English Opera House in 1902. Niehaus chose to depict Harrison standing before a draped, Greek-style chair, wearing an open overcoat, one hand upraised and the other holding gloves, explaining that a lifelike seated portrait would not be flattering: as Harrison was below the average stature he was unable to touch the floor when seated, which made that attitude practically impossible from an artistic standpoint. The bronze rests on an oval limestone base with a decorative top border and a relief of an eagle on the front.
Notice that Niehaus chose this standing pose over a seated portrait because Harrison, well below average stature, could not have touched the floor while seated.