Poe Contemplates Shoe

Baltimore, Maryland

Edgar Allan Poe was sculpted by Sir Moses Jacob Ezekiel, in the city where where the author died and was buried in 1849. The statue's official dedication in 1921 was delayed by a fire, an earthquake, World War I, and the death of the sculptor, all of which seem somehow befitting of Poe's gloomy reputation.

Poe is portrayed sitting awkwardly in what appears to be an extremely uncomfortable throne-like chair, gazing down at his left shoe. According to Ezekiel's notes, Poe is supposed to be "listening in rapt attention to a divine melody and a new rhythm in his art." To that end the sides of the chair are decorated with muses, apparently making the music that Poe listened to, and perhaps giving him thoughts about dancing, or at least tapping his toes in that shoe.