The Indianapolis journal., 1902-07-28
GEORGE GREY BARNARD.
How This Great American Sculptor
Has Won His Fame.

Boston
George Grey Barnard, the celebrated
American sculptor. has been engaged to
execute all of the great mass of sculpture
to be placed upon the new Capitol building
for the State of Pennsylvania. The selec-
ton of the artist is a particularly happy
one. Many of the French critics and ar
lists consider him one of the greatest liv-
ing sculptors. He has been engaged upon
important works for the past ten years in
New York city, where he has his studios.
few years ago he built a magnificent
studio on the Palisades of the Hudson.
He has a studio on Fifth avenue as well,
where his friends and patrons may see his
latest creations. Mr.. Barnard was born
at Bellefonte, Pa, May "a 1863. He studied
at the Art Institute, Chicago, ILL.,, and at
the Ecoie Rationale des Beaux Arts, Paris.
working ten years before showing any
thing in a public exhibition. His parents
are now living at Madison, Ind. where his
father has for many years been the pastor
Of the most prominent church. He is a
member of the National Academy of De-
sign, the Sculpture Society," the Architect
ural Club of New York and the Societe Ma
tionale des Beaux Arts CNew SALON., Paris.
and is the instructor OF sculpture at the
Art Students League, New York, this po-
sition being formerly filled by ST. Gaudens
and French.
His works are always characterized by
tremendous force and power. He is a deep
thinker as we'll as a lover of nature, and no
American sculptor can compete with. him
in the representation Of the nude in sculp-
ture He has confined himself largely to
this most difficult branch Of the sculpture
art. His most famous works are. THE
Hewer," .Msaidenhood.,% rBr0therly r,r, Love"
Within Me-" now in the Metropolitan Mu-
scum, New York; "The Great God Pam in
Central Park, New York; bust of Coils p
Huntington, THE Elements" two groups
now in Paris; 1.-The Seidl Urn" for the re-
mains of the famous New York musical
conductor Besides these. he has executed
numberless busts, statuettes and memorials
in bas-rehef. etc. All the large groups are
in marble, with the exception of his PAN"
which is in bronze. His Two Natures is
a colossal group of two nude figures 1t
represents the struggle in man. the spirit
ual over the material man. 1t is a work
of great beauty and vigor.
1t is with great pleasure that all artists
and lovers of art will hail the selection
made by the commissioners in employing
two such remarkably gifted men as Abbey
and Barnard. Both of them have made
their way in the world unguided.
Banard slept in a cellar while attending
the Chicago Art Institute School during the
day. In Paris he lived for months on plain
rice and water, until one fine day he was
discovered to have exceptional talent, and
since that time his fame has become world
wide. He has received the highest honors
at several of the great European exhibi-
tions, and recently the King of England
has chosen him TO immortaiZe on canvas
the coronation at Westminster Abbey His
decorations for the Pennsylvania State cap
ltol building VIII eclipse all his other orders
IN magnitude.
Mr.. Barnard will receive $4,000 for the
groups of sculpture and other statuary
Truly this is a chance 10 make art on a
scale that few of us have dreamt Of being
possible in the United States. We are able
to give a slight idea OF the sculptor's general
plans. There are 10 be four principal divi-
SlonS or the sculpture. The most important
will comprise the great bronze group before
the base of the dome TO represent THE
Apotheosis OF Labor. The present scheme
calls for colossal figures. with three horses.
perhaps thirty-five feet high. No such
bronze group has yet been attempted here
The rest OF the sculpture will be In marble
The second division of the sculpture will
holding this group. These will represent
the typical forms of labor that have made
the State of Pennsylvania what II is. One
pair viii consist of miners welding picks,
another Of ironwOrkers with hammers a
third OF iumbermen with axes and the
fourth of farmers with spades. The third
division will embrace two groups Of
primitive men, women and children, en-
bodying some allegOrtcai conception. and
being also important factors IN the general
composition. They will be placed on either
side OF the main entrance, curving outward
and on the ground level. so that they will
constitute an integral part OF the entrance
The fourth division Of the sculpture com
prises four groups, 10 stand at either side
of each OF the subordinate front entrances
in the wings. These are TO portray in gen
eral type and costume the four classes OF
people chiefly responsible for the building
up OF the State OF Pennsylvania the
ouakers, the Scotch-Irish the English and
the Pennsylvania Dutch. In these last
named groups will be shown Indians in
their warlike or peaceful relation with the
white people. Mr. Barnard will have a
chance TO give much action ia thexe