Waterbury Democrat., 1902-10-01
SCULPTURE AT EXPOSITION
The Coming Worlds Fair at St Louis a Will Have a Magnificent Display.


 Worlds Fair, St Louis, Sept 30.- The appointment of Frederick w. Ruckstuhl to be director of sculpture for the worlds fair of 1904, marks the beginning of work upon this most inn portant decorative and artistic feature of the exposition. MT Ruckstuhl brings to this position the achievements of un- usual genius in this difficult profession. Every great exhibit palace of the ex- position will have it's special decora- tions of sculpture, while many groups will have places at important points upon the grounds. Commissions win be given by MT Ruckstuhl to many sculptors of America and Europe. in order that the artists of the world may have adequate representation and the best results may be achieved.
 Mir Ruckstuhl was born of Huguenot parents in Breitenback, small village of Alsace, high up in the Vosges noun tains. in 153. His parents soon after his birth moved to Paris and thence to St Louis. MT RuckstuhI says he felt. q trend toward sculpture as far back as he can remember. At fifteen years lie had decided to take up sculpture, but his father, a poor inventor and much of dreamer, was extremely re-
 
 into the ministry. Without means to enable him to study sculpture, the son became clerk ill a notion store. Busi- ness life was extremely distastefuI and sculpture was uppermoSt in his mind A ten weeks course in drawing in the old Washington university and amateur practice in modelling enabled him to secure a few@small commissions from St Louis men, It was not until he was 32 years of age that he was able to go to Paris. He was then too old to enter the Beaux Arts school, so he studied in Academic Julien, Academic Cola Rossi and Academic Rollins, where Mercie was master. He also drew from the Chapelle and followed the famous anatomical lectures at the BeauX Arts. At the end of three years he sent plaster statue called Evening to the Salon and then went to Italy. Returning seven weeks later he found an honorable mention' lacked on the. pedestal of his sta.ie. Ihls decided him and he made no mis- take i'll adopting sculpture. Returning to St Louis. MT RuckstuhI opened a studio. He exhibited his plaster statue at the St Louis annual exposition. where it met with so much favor that he received a commission to axecTlta this statute in marble. After finishing a portrait bust of Mrs Overstoltz. a commission from the former mayor of St Louis, he again went to Paris. He returned to St Louis after three years With the marble completed and plas- ter group called Mercury AmllsiI1o | Himself.' nine feet high. both of NSsch had been highly appreciated in the salon in Paris. The Mercury group was cast in bronze and set up in Port land place. MT Ruckstuhl opened , studio i'll New York in 1892. Hss nrin- cipal other works are: Three colossal heads of Goethe. Macaulay and Frank lin for the facade of the CongressionaI library at Washington; a bronze statTe or salon for the reading room of tha same library; a colossal ..Victory', Tn bronze for the soldiers monument of Jamaica, New York city; two colossal marble statues of Wisdom, and
 Force'' for the entrance of the co1lrt of. appeals in New York city: a bronze equestrian statue Of General r F Hartranft, at Harrisburg, ordered by the state of Pennsylvania; colossal group, 'The Army. for the Dewey arch, New York; colossal uuadHga America Welcoming the Nations" for the dome of the government buildine at the Buffalo exposition. Besides ! number of busts and medaIlions he has Just nnlshed 2 colossal group, .aThe Spirit of the Confectionery for the con- federate monument at Baltimore which will be unveiled in November. MT Ruckstuhl has been very active in all altruistic work in New York city He is the organizer of the National Sculpture society of New York and is 2 prominent member of many art or | ganizations.