The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-08-29
OBITUARY.


ObllUAhx.
John Henry Foley, r.. II. A., RIA.
BY the death or John Henry Foley British art
has lost one OF its brightest ornaments man de-
voted to study and ever aiming to attain higher
perfection in his works. ever willing to accord
praise wherever it was due and seeking rather TO
deprecate than exalt his own merit AS the
result OF long and aborious study Mr. Foley
reached the topmost rung OF lame In foreign
land whittier he went, without friends or patrons
to help him in the struggle or lie. Born in
Dublin on the cath OF May, 1918, his attention was
early directed toward art by relative, who was
himself an ornamental sculptor. At the age OF
thirteen he entered the drawing and modelling
schools OF the Royal Dublin Society. then under the
direction OF sculptor OF eminence-Mr. Smith.
This gentleman, perceivlng the bent OF young
FOley's mind, encouraged him to select sculpture
the special object OF his study. After some
years spent under this master the youthful student
succeeded In carrying or the two first prizes In
the classes he attended; and as Dublin, as result
OF the union, was rapidly sinking to the position OF
a provincial town. the young artist turned his
eyes to London as anOrding a wider field for the
exercise OF his talents. In 1884 he left for London
where he entered as student In the Royal Acad-
envy. From this time until he appeared as exhiD-
itor In the Academy exhibition OF 1889 he sup
ported himself Dy working for other scuptors, but
the success which attended his exhibited models
soon -, enao!ed NUN 10 open stoolo OF ms own. HIS
and ''rhe Death OF Abel" which were much adj
nired; but MS real success dates from the follow
ing year, when he contributed the beautl-
inl group of "Ino and Bacchus." which obtained q
popularity greater, perhaps than has iallen TO the
by playful fancy graceful lines and exquisite re-
fnement OIL conception 1t at once raised the
lesson, and 1t Is to his honor tnat It has ever
been his constant aim TO merit the place which
the Earl OF ElIesmere Tor the production Of this
group IN marble. and the manner in which the
work was executed Increased the lame Of the
the most popular and widely distributed OF the
parian stat1ettes Alter the ."lno and Bacchus,"
MIR. Foley executed many imaginative works
Lear ana coraelia and H' the death OF Lear in
1 s se M seu srsa% ,se ns %osSs
part of his career his ideal ehorts were few and
tanned celebrity the public sought Rlm- 10 per-
People Msg s5d 4s ot 'n noe h or asHn
themselves sought to obtain 1t through the cnisel
Poeys lie were devoted to modelling Gusts and
monumental statues. In this branch OF art Mr..
Foley enjoyed during late years something Ike
monopoly HIS 0roerS Tor pubic statues were
so numerous that even with the aid OF numerous
assistants he mad more works on hand than he
could have completed IN years to come. On many
occasions during the past years he was obliged to
refuse absolutely TO receive COMMISSIONS. Among
the more important monumental works OF Mr:
Foley may be mentioned the composition in Milford
ana Captain Wnitby. his wellington memo
@ the Statue the Moa IN ns
Westminster Palace his Hardlnge statue and
! the grand indian memorial to Sir James Uutram.
He was one OF the artists chosen by Queen Victoria
to contribute TO the Prince Consort memorial.
! and ON the death OF Baron Marochetti he was in
trusted with the execution Of the statue OF Prince
Albert His native city has received two OF MIS-
greatest works. the statues Of the gentle Gold
smith and the great Edmund Burke. 10 him also
| was entrusted the O'Conneii memorial, Tor which
| some years ago he selected the site 10 the main
street OF the Irish metropolis. Many OF che works
on which he was engaged remain unfinished. SO
jealous was ne OF his reputation that no
permit iauty work to leave his studio.
1t was one Of his great merits that he never de.
graded his art to trade. Although he received
very liberal remuneration lor mis- works. such was
the care he bestowed in finishing Them that he
made less money than artists who enjoy not .
1.-THE the popularity he did. No British sculptor
achieved great lasting popularity in his time,
aud none labored harder to deserve the patronage
showered upon him. II the work OF this artist had
iau.t It was want OF warmth and sympathy. me
classic and at times his art was ham
! pered by conventionaity, but 1t was always
pure and tautiessy correct. In this he off
Tered essentially from his great rival, Mcdowell,
vino was iull o. poeuc feeling, but FESTIVE under
| the formal traces OF classIcism. His works are
! was O distinguishing feature OF FOley's work. The
genius OF this artist received ample recogni-
ton IN Continental countries; he was one OF the
three British sculptOrs-MacDOwel LawlOr and
FOley-whO were awarded prizes in tine Great
Paris Exhibition. Gifted with refined taste, con-
siderable invention and great executive skil, he
was to the last year OF his life close and earnest
student OF nature and ancient art. Indeed, his re-
sp .ct Tor Grectan sculpture was carried to the
point OF reverence. The death OF this remarkable
man will leave In the ranks Of British art gap
which will not easily be filed.