A Visit with Augustus Saint-Gaudens and MacNeil at the Art Institute of Chicago

Weiss

I visited the Art Institute of Chicago (AIC) over the weekend (St. Patricks Day in Chicago!!) and made a point to visit the area of the museum with several pieces by Saint-Gaudens.

Saint-Gaudens worked extensively in Chicago, from his work with the Columbian Exposition and its medal to two massive Lincoln statues in Grant Park.

Saint-Gaudens created a famous 9' tall statue of Deacon Samuel Chapin known as "The Puritan" for the city of Springfield, MA, unveiled on Thanksgiving Day in 1887. It proved so popular that Saint-Gaudens made another large example called "The Pilgrim" for Philadelphia. The market was strong enough to support the release smaller versions, called "multiples", for individual purchase. The Art Institute has one of the smaller versions of "The Puritan" measuring about 30" tall. Note Saint-Gaudens' bronze bas relief of Jules Bastien-Lepage (1881) background:

Here's another bas relief, this one of Violet Sargent, sister to painter John Singer Sargent. Saint-Gaudens created this piece (1908) for John Singer Sargent in exchange for a painting of his own wife and son.

Here's that painting of Homer Saint-Gaudens, with his mother, Augusta by Sargent. I didn't get a chance to see it: This piece hangs at the Met in New York

This is arguably the most beautiful piece by Saint-Gaudens at the AIC. It's a study for the Adams Memorial, a statue commissioned by writer Henry Adams for the the grave of his wife Clover, who died by suicide at the age of 42. Officially known as "The Mystery of the Hereafter and The Peace of God that Passeth Understanding", it became known as "Grief"--much to Saint-Gaudens and Henry Adams dislike.

This study (1891) measures approximately 20" tall:

And the full statue at Clover Adams grave at Rock Creek cemetery in Washington DC:

The "Amor Caritas" were caryatids (draped female figures) that Saint-Gaudens tweaked over several years as he incorporated them in several works from fireplace mantles to grave markers. Like The Puritan, the image proved so popular that he eventually released it as a stand-alone work. This piece, measuring about 50" tall, was cast circa 1900:

I like the shared imagery with the chronologically close $20 double eagle.

Interestingly, the AIC has a 1907 $20 double eagle, as well as copies of the Columbian Exposition medal. But if they were on display, I missed them.

Finally, here's a bonus bronze statue by Hermon Atkins MacNeil of the standing liberty quarter (and the 1901 Pan American Exposition Medals). This piece, measuring not quite 6 feet tall, is titled The Sun Vow. This is one of three large bronze statues by MacNeil at the AIC. The AIC also has several medals by MacNeil, including the aforementioned Pan American Exposition medal--awarded to the Art Institute of Chicago at the expo in 1901!

Coinosaurus

I have a copy the Numismatist (vols. 1-6) that is ex. Art Institute of Chicago. Yes, it has a deaccession stamp

TomB

Outstanding post! I have visited the Augustus Saint Gaudens National Historic Site in NH dozens of times over the years and to be able to see the artwork up close, as well as his home, studio and other structures, is amazing.

alaura22

Excellent
Thanks for sharing

PerryHall

Thanks for a great thread and for reminding us that many of our older coins were designed by true artists.

ricko

Thank you for an excellent, informative and entertaining post with marvelous pictures. Cheers, RickO

LukeMarshall

Great Post, thanks for sharing your visit to the Museum.

coinkat

great post... excellent images... this is what makes participating here worth it-

SmEagle1795

Great post - and I hope you also saw our green river during your visit (one of the stranger St. Patrick's Day rituals...)

Weiss

@SmEagle1795 said:
Great post - and I hope you also saw our green river during your visit (one of the stranger St. Patrick's Day rituals...)

TomB

Great picture!