The gilded equestrian statue of General William Tecumseh Sherman is one of the most popular in the city. It stands in Grand Army Plaza on the southeast corner of the park, opposite the Plaza Hotel – a mecca for street performances. It is the work of sculptor Augustus St. Gaudens, who worked on this statue from 1892 to 1903. The statue of Sherman is considered to be one of the world’s finest equestrian monuments. Accompanied by Nike, the Goddess of Victory, Sherman is symbolically being led into the battles of 1864 that split the Confederacy in two, effectively ending the Civil War. I build the image around the soft golden coloration of the figures. The clouds parted just enough to produce reflective light that subtly illuminates both Nike and Sherman, while keeping the base, horse, and surrounding buildings in deep shadow. The play of reflective light energizes the figures, and brings the image to life.