Angel of Grief
Stanford University
Stanford, California

The Angel of Grief monument was erected in 1901 as a memorial to Mrs. Leland Stanford’s brother, Henry Lathrop. The monument consists of a marble sculpture placed on a granite plinth and set at the center of a ceramic tile field. A wrought- and cast-iron fence encloses the monument. ARG undertook a conservation study of the monument, including materials analysis for cleaning and chemical treatment of the marble and granite, conservation and restoration of the wrought iron, and preservation treatments for the ceramic tile. The next phase was the stabilization of the most prominent features of the monument. ARG staff cleaned the statue of biological growth and staining. Masonry repairs were made to the marble to prevent the intrusion of water into concealed areas of the statue and its base. The marble was also chemically treated to reduce the effects of natural weathering and to prevent biological growth. ARG assisted with the preparation of construction documents for a restoration of the entire monument, including the carving of missing features, repair and replacement of ceramic tile, and restoration of cast iron.

For more information on the Angel of Grief, visit grounds.stanford.edu/points/gardens/mausoleum.html