Isidore Konti papers
name: label: Creator
content: Konti, Isidore, 1862-1938
topic: label: Occupation
content: Sculptors -- United States
label: Occupation
content: Sculptors -- New York (State)
label: Topic
content: Decoration and ornament, Architectural -- United States
label: Topic
content: Eclecticism in architecture -- United States
label: Topic
content: Sculpture, Modern -- 20th century -- United States
acqinfo: label: Provenance
content: Papers were lent for microfilming in 1977 by the Hudson River Museum. The papers were subsequently donated in 2000 by Konti's grandnephew, Richard E. Kaeyer.
creator: label: Creator
content: Konti, Isidore, 1862-1938
setName: label: See more items in
content: Isidore Konti papers
abstract: label: Summary
content: The Isidore Konti papers measure 3.5 linear feet and date from circa 1879-1975. They illustrate his career through biographical materials, correspondence, personal business records, printed and photographic materials, and artwork.
bioghist: label: Biographical / Historical
content: Isidore Konti (1862-1938) was a sculptor who worked primarily in New York. 


Konti was born July 9, in Vienna, Austria, where he studied under Edmund Von Hellmer and Karl Kundmann. In 1886, he received a scholarship that allowed him to study in Rome for a two year period. Konti immigrated to America in 1891, where he would permanently stay. After a small period of time in New York, where he became an associate of Philip Martiny, he went to Chicago where he worked on sculptural decorations for the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition. When he completed his work, he moved to New York City where he began work as an assistant for Austrian expatriate Karl Bitter. 


In 1904, Konti created the fountains of the Atlantic and Pacific for the Louisiana Purchase Exposition in St. Louis. During the following decades, he established his reputation working in the Beaux Arts tradition, befriending many of the significant sculptors of the early 20th century. Konti received many public and private commissions including historical reliefs for the Syracuse Post Office, and figures for the Pan-American Union Building, as well as several private sculpture commissions. 


In 1909, he was elected to the National Academy of Design as an associate member and subsequently became a full Academician. Konti was a member of the Salmagundi Club, the Architectural League of New York, the Yonkers Art Association, The Fine Arts Federation, and the National Arts Club. In 1914, Konti settled in Yonkers, New York, where he lived the rest of his life. 


Isidore Konti died on January 11, 1938, in Yonkers, New York.
physdesc: label: Extent
content: 3.5 Linear Feet
unitdate: label: Date
content: circa 1879-1975
dataSource: label: Archival Repository
content: Archives of American Art
identifier: label: Identifier
content: AAA.kontisid
objectType: label: Type
content: Collection descriptions
label: Type
content: Archival materials
label: Type
content: Drawings
label: Type
content: Sketchbooks
label: Type
content: Scrapbooks
arrangement: label: Arrangement
content: This collection consists of six series.

Series 1: Biographical Material, circa 1879-1929 (.2 Linear feet: Box 1, OV 7)

Series 2: Correspondence, circa 1894-1975 (.2 Linear feet: Box 1)

Series 3: Personal Business Records, circa 1900-1940 (.2 Linear feet: Box 1)

Series 4: Printed Material, circa 1898-1968 (.6 Linear feet: Boxes 1-2)

Series 5: Photographic Material, circa 1879-1959 (1.9 Linear feet: Boxes 2-6)

Series 6: Artwork, circa 1902-1974 (.4 Linear feet: Box 3, OV 8)
processinfo: label: Processing Information
content: This collection was processed, and a finding aid prepared, by Allessandra Liberati in 2023.
altformavail: label: Existence and Location of Copies
content: Portions of the collection are available on 35mm microfilm reels 1208 and 1210-1211 at the Archives of American Art offices and through interlibrary loan. Researchers should note that the arrangement of material described in the container inventory does not reflect the arrangement of the collection on microfilm.
genre_format: label: Genre/Form
content: Drawings
label: Genre/Form
content: Sketchbooks
label: Genre/Form
content: Scrapbooks
scopecontent: label: Scope and Contents
content: The Isidore Konti papers measure 3.5 linear feet and date form circa 1879-1975. Biographical material consists of Konti's resume and passport, as well as various awards and certificates. Correspondence is about sculpture projects and was written primarily by Konti's colleagues including Karl Bitter, Elliott Daingerfield, Rudolf Eickemeyer, Daniel Chester French, Charles Keck, Hermon MacNeil, Paul Manship, Frederick G. R. Roth, and Adolph Weinman. Also included are letters of condolence sent after Konti's death. Personal business records include account statements and receipts from the Gorham Company, commission contracts, copyright purchase records, and receipts from the Roman Bronze Works. 

Printed material consists of the constitution and by-laws and a bulletin from the Hudson River Museum, a 1926 catalog Small Bronzes by Great Sculptors as Prizes, materials related to the Corcoran Art Gallery, and various exhibition and auction catalogs. Also included are news clippings and two scrapbooks. Photographic material includes photographs of works of art and personal photographs, as well as photographs of Isidore Konti. Also included are several scrapbooks of photographs of artwork. Artwork consists of several sketches, oil pastels, and a sketchbook by Konti. Also included are two sculptures.