American sculptor (1866?1947)
Hermon Atkins MacNeil
(February 27, 1866 – October 2, 1947) was an American
sculptor
born in
Everett
, Massachusetts. He is known for designing the
Standing Liberty
quarter
, struck by the Mint from 1916?1930; and for sculpting
Justice, the Guardian of Liberty
on the east pediment of the
United States Supreme Court building
.
Career
[
edit
]
The
Standing Liberty Quarter
(1916), has the initial of designer Hermon Atkins MacNeil on its face above the date.
MacNeil graduated from
Massachusetts Normal Art School
, now
Massachusetts College of Art and Design
, in 1886,
[2]
became an instructor in industrial art at
Cornell University
from 1886 to 1889, and was then a pupil of
Henri M. Chapu
and
Alexandre Falguiere
in
Paris
. Returning to America, he aided
Philip Martiny
(1858?1927) in the preparation of sketch models for the
World's Columbian Exposition
, and in 1896 he won the Rinehart scholarship, passing four years (1896?1900) in
Rome
.
In 1906 he became a National Academician. His first important work was
The Moqui Runner
, which was followed by
A Primitive Chant
, and
The Sun Vow
, all figures of the North
American Indian
.
Several of his earlier American Indian sculptures served as the inspiration for his later contribution to the long running
Society of Medalists
,
Hopi Prayer for Rain
.
Fountain of Liberty
, for the
Louisiana Purchase Exposition
, and other Indian themes came later; his
Agnese
and his
Beatrice
, which are two fine busts of women, and his nude statuettes, which echo his time spent in Rome and Paris,
[4]
also deserve mention. One of his principal works is the
William McKinley Monument
sculpture in
Columbus, Ohio
, in honor of President
William McKinley
. In 1909 he won in competition a commission for a large soldiers' and sailors' monument in
Albany, New York
.
Perhaps his best known work is as the designer of the
Standing Liberty quarter
, which was minted from 1916 to 1930, and carries his initial to the right of the date. He also made
Justice, the Guardian of Liberty
on the east pediment of the
United States Supreme Court building
.
MacNeil was one of a dozen sculptors invited to compete in the
Pioneer Woman
statue competition in 1927,
[5]
which he failed to win. His work was also part of the art competitions at the
1928 Summer Olympics
and the
1932 Summer Olympics
.
[6]
One of his last works was the
Pony Express
statue dedicated in 1940 in
St. Joseph, Missouri
.
Family
[
edit
]
His wife,
Carol Brooks MacNeil
, also a sculptor of distinction, was a pupil of
Frederick William MacMonnies
and a member of the
White Rabbits
.
Gallery
[
edit
]
References
[
edit
]
- ^
"Hermon MacNeil"
.
National Park Service
. Retrieved
November 3,
2023
.
- ^
Student Academic Records, Archives of Massachusetts College of Art and Design
- ^
"Hermon Atkins MacNeil"
.
Fine Art May 2007
. Rago Arts and Auction Center. Archived from
the original
on July 15, 2011.
- ^
"Exhibition of Models for a Monument to the Pioneer Woman" at the Chicago Architectural Exhibition, East Galleries, Art Institute of Chicago, June 25 to August 1, 1927
- ^
"Hermon Atkins MacNeil"
.
Olympedia
. Retrieved
July 29,
2020
.
- ^
Leininger, Dan (May 19, 2010).
"MacNeil's Sculpture of Ezra Cornell"
.
Hermon A. MacNeil: American Sculptor
. Retrieved
June 1,
2018
.
External links
[
edit
]
|
---|
International
| |
---|
National
| |
---|
Artists
| |
---|
Other
| |
---|