Stanford Mausoleum ‘Angel of Grief’ statue vandalized

The “Angel of Grief” statue at the Stanford family Mausoleum was recently vandalized, according to a Stanford Department of Public Safety report received Tuesday, Aug. 11.

The report noted that someone had broken off the left forearm of the white marble statue, which was originally commissioned by Jane Stanford in memory of her brother Henry Clay Lathrop.

The vandalized Angel of Grief statue is missing its left forearm. (SAM GIRVIN/The Stanford Daily)

The sculpture was originally placed in 1901, sculpted by William Wetmore Story, before being reproduced for Stanford. Story’s full name for his piece was “The Angel of Grief Weeping Over the Dismantled Altar of Life.”

“Angel of Grief” was at first housed inside a dome, before the dome collapsed during a 1906 earthquake. The sculpture was later rebuilt in 1908. The sculpture now sits north of the mausoleum that entombs the remains of Leland and Jane Stanford, as well as their son, Leland Jr.

Stanford police seek information and/or witnesses to the vandalism of “Angel of Grief” and encourage anyone with information or knowledge of the whereabouts of the missing piece of the sculpture to call Stanford police at (650) 723-9633.