Los Angeles herald., 1907-08-04
DEATH CALLS
ST. GAUDENS
MASTER SCULPTOR SUCcUMBS
TO DISEASE
PASSES AWAY AFTER SUFFERING
FROM LONG ILLNESS
Noted Genius of Worldwide Fame
Ceases His Work-Leaves Mas
terpieces to Decorate
New York
BY Associated Press.

by Associated EreSs.
CORNISH, N. Y, Aug 3.-Augustus st.
Gaudens, the sculptor, died at his home
at $3.50 o'clock this evening after long
illness, aged 50 years. Death was due to
a general breakdown of the system,
caused in part by a form of nervous dys-
pepsia.
Last year Mr.. st. Gaudens was operated
upon for a minor trouble, and although
he was temporarily relieved he continued
in poor health During the past month
his decline has been rapid.
Until the first part of July he visited
his studio nearly every day. but as he
work. Since the middle Of July he has
been obliged to remain in bed. For two
days before his death he was unconscious
the greater part of the time.
NEW YORK, Aug. 3.-Through letter
from President Roosevelt, made public
today, it was learned that Augustus ST
Gaudens, the famous American sculptor
who died tonight had designed the new
gold coins which are now being com"
pleted. This design Is probably the last
completed work that left the hands of the
sculptor. The letter was sent to Thomas
l.. Elder, secretary of a committee of a
society which is endeavoring to secure an
improvement of the entire coinage, in
response to resolutions which this COM
mttee forwarded to President Roosevelt
The letter follows:
Il am in receipt of your letter, July 29
1907, accompanying resolutions, and have
called for report on them from the sec
retary of the treasury. You will be
pleased to know that we are now COM
pleting a new coinage of the eagle and
double eagle designed by st. Gaudens,
and certainly there is no greater artist
genius living in the United States or
elsewhere"
Augustus st. Gaudens was born in
Dublin Ireland, March 1. 1S4S. He was
brought to the United States in infancy
and at thirteen he was bound in appren-
ticeship to learn cameo printing and
spent several years at this art. Six years
later he went to Paris and studied under
the sculptor Jouffroy.
While in Paris in 1871 he produced his
first figure, Hiawatha and the following
year he returned to the United States.
The Sherman equestrian statute which
was unveiled at the southeast entrance
to Central park, New York, in 1904, is the
last of a series of five commemorating
heroes of the Civil war among the most
notable of which is the figure of Farra-
gut in Madison square, New York
st. Gaudens was sculptor of or ginal-
ity and freshness who had adopted the
best standards of French tastes and
methods of execution without being hide
bound by tradition. He had style at
once polished and free.
Among important works of his besides
those mentioned are the President Lincoln
statue in Lincoln park, Chicago, the bas
relief Alteration of the Cross by An
gels" the Shaw monument at Boston, and
the Diana on the tower of Madison Square
garden, New York. He also took part in
executing the Parnell memorial monu-
ment in 1901, designed several medals of
presentation authorized by congress. and
assisted John La Fargo in decorating
Trinity church. Boston.
What perhaps is the most striking char
acteristic of all his ideal Statues is that of
The Puritan at Springfield, Mass. This,
according to a critic, is the Puritan of
early New England in all his aggressive
and unbending strength-soldier, theolo--
gian, statesman. There is nothing win
ming or conciliating in his air. He is
come to conquer the wilderness, as Crom-
well conquered the aristocracy Of England
and wiped out for the brief period of the
Commonwealth the haughtiest of Europ-
can dynasties.