The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-02-19
AUGUSTUS ST.. GAUDENS.
The Noted American Sculptor Whose
Medal Shocked congressman.

Kansas City Star.
Augustus st. Gaudens has been one OF
the glOrleS or American art ever since he
made the great statue of Admiral Farragut
which stands in Madison-square Garden,
New York. That was in 1880, and since then
he has made the wonderful Lincoln monu-
ment for Chicago. This work Is pronounced
by the greatest critics to be mot only our
best likeness of Abraham Lincoln, but our
finest work OF art"
MIR. st. GaudenS is an American sculptor,
though he was born in Dublin and studied
abroad. He was brought to New York at
the tender age Of six weeks, and his first
art education was obtained at Cooper In
stitute. There he studied in the evenings,
working In the daytime at cameo cutting,
ton When his apprenticeship was over
he went to Paris, cut canoes for his living
and studied sculpture between times. AFTER
spending three years in Paris he went to
Rome, studied there for two years more.
then he returned to New York and set to
work as a sculptor.
FarTagut statue, which was exhibited In
plates at the Paris salon of 1880. and made
io t Me' Sd G %oTIda Next Shs rep came his ne h eGtde
statue of Robert r. Randall at Sailors
Snug harbor, Staten Island, y. Y, and the
field, Mass, pronounced the finest embodi-
ment of Puritanism in our art" Mr.. st.
Gaudens has also produced portrait busts
of William NJ. EvartS, Theodore ID. WOOL
sey and General Sherman, and the famous
medallions of Bastien lie Page and Robert
Louis stevenson. Inc name Oh 81 GduUeDS
always recalls the beautiful angels on the
Morgan tomb, wonderful works, which
were, unfortunately, destroyed by fire. lie
has done some magnificent work IN Cor
John La Forge decorated Trinity Church
Boston.
things in low relief as in the portraits of
the two children of Prescott Hall Butler
and the bronze tablet Of Dr. Bellows In All
At Chicago st. Gaudens was represented
by the great statue of Columbus IN front
really the work Of a pupil modelled under
the direction and with the help of st
c4ow q the The Som sir Of A stlasd Diaf Hall t Mas
also his, being transferred from New York.
When the Columbian medals were decided
on there was much rejoicing because the
commission had been given outright to
Mr.. st. Gaudens: 1t was then assured that
the medal would be a work of art worthy
of the exposition. Mr.. st. Gaudens made
5000, it was accepted by the Treasury De-
partment, and the medals were about to be
hand in the matter. They examined the de-
sign, pronounced IL unworthy and began
planning changes in 1t. Mr.. st: Gaudens
medal and he alone could change 1t. The
| Senate committee has ordered it changed.
and there the matter now stands, delayed
by some technicality which Secretary Car
| Isle has raised.
Not very long ago there was formed in
L NEW 1OrK Il NdllOIld sculpture lie
| which probably has on it's roll of member
| more influential names than any other
| society in this country. Its object is to
prevent the erection of buildings, and stat
| ues. and monuments generally which are
not beautiful; TO save the country from the
great waste of money which has been going
fon through the erection of objects which
were considered by any artist or his friends
TO be works of art, and which were erected
| only to prove laughing stock to the rest OF
the world.
This society has much influence In Its
own city, and Mr.. st. Gaudens's design has
! been submitted to it. The model meets with
the approval of The Society, and a remon.
! STRANGE against having 1t changed has been
| addressed to the Senate committee: Wheth-
| er 1t will do any good or not remains to be
seen.
Whether the medal is changed or not the
whole affair is ~laughable, coming directly
after the great triumph of the Court OF
| Honor at Chicago and the many optimistic
things that nave been said and written
| during the last year on art in America