PURCHASE: ~ NEW ~ MacNeil Biography
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Jim Haas’ BOOK~ Hermon Atkins MacNeil: American Sculptor In the Broad, Bright Daylight
Purchase MacNeil Medallion On eBay
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CLICK HERE to purchase a MacNeil Medallion of
the Standing Liberty Quarter on eBay photos → →
Our post of March 9, 2023 shared Dr. Andrew Walker’s praise for Jim Haas’ recent Bio of Hermon MacNeil
Walker, since 2011 has been has been Director at the Amon Carter Museum of Fort Worth, Texas.
His knowledge of MacNeil is evident in the volume “Shaping the West.” MacNeil’s sculpture of the ‘Sun Vow’ graces its cover (see photo above). Published by the Denver Art Museum, Walker contributed the essay entitled: “Hermon Atkins MacNeil and the 1904 World’s Fair: A Monumental Program for the American West.” Praise from Andrew Walker constitutes worthy acclaim.
It is all in the faces – the ideals passed to a new generation.
While highlighting the work of Hermon Atkins MacNeil, Dr. Walker illustrates how the 1904 World’s Fair in St Louis included a monumental sculpture initiative. He does this with narrative and photo description of the major sculptures that formed the grounds, fountains, waterfalls and buildings of the 1904 Louisiana Purchase Exposition in Saint Louis. The current St. Louis Art Museum (where Walker was previously a curator) was the “Palace of Fine Arts” conceived by Cass Gilbert, architect of the fair grounds (and later the US Supreme Court Building). Over a century later, MacNeil’s three sculpture relief panels still look down from their vantage point above the three sets of doors at the main entrance.
The ‘Sun Vow’ at the MMA – NYC – with Daniel Chester French’s “Angel of Death” in relief in background (See also Webmaster’s <= Comment at left. The ‘Sun Vow’ at the MMA – NYC – with Daniel Chester French’s “Angel of Death” in relief in background (See also Webmaster’s <= Comment at left.
The more I study this sculpture (as other MacNeil pieces?) the more new details I find in MacNeil’s creations.
The photo at right shows MacNeil’s Sun Vow with Daniel Chester French’s “Angel of Death” in the background. French and MacNeil were colleagues and collaborators. The Angel of Death has grasped the hand of the sculptor.
[See more of this Daniel Chester French sculpture, CLICK HERE.]
Webmaster’s Comment: The beauty and ‘irony’ of the two sculptures together, long after the death of the two sculptors and the vanishing of the culture of the Sun Vow that MacNeil has memorialized, are a compounded and profound statement of the power of art and artists.
SOURCES:
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SHAPING THE WEST : American Sculptors of the 19th Century. With additional essays by Alice Levi Duncan, Thayer. Tolles, Peter Hassrick, Sarah E. Boehme, and Andrew Walker.
James E. Haas: Author & Historian of College Point
By · CommentsAbout the Author
James E. Haas is a fifth generation College Pointer and a graduate of St. John’s University in Jamaica, NY. He has written ten books, three on subjects related to the history of College Point. With a Masters Degree in Religious Education, Haas has written widely on church-related subjects, liturgy and prayer with and for children as well as religious education.
The biography has received glowing comments such as these from Andrew Walker:
James E. Haas tells a compelling story of a sculptor who made a tremendous, but underappreciated impact on the American cultural scene during his lifetime.The level of research is clearly a compassionate focus in a conventional biographical approach. MacNeil is not a Rodin or a Picasso where drama dictates his biography. Rather, his story reaches heights of dramatic impact in those decisions and efforts that charted the nations priorities and challenges.At times, this dramatic arc of MacNeil’s artistic activity is deeply connected to broader social and cultural life during times of change. MacNeil’s life after his experiences in the early 20th century continued as an expected life of a committed artist, and this biography does justice to his contributions, and his artistic achievement.Andrew Walker — Director, Amon Carter Museum of American Art. — Fort Worth, TX
To Honor Fallen Heroes: How a Small German-American Village in New York City Experienced the Great War (1)
“HAPPY BIRTHDAY
UNCLE HERMON”
HE WAS BORN 157 YEARS AGO TODAY
FEBRUARY 27TH, 1866
Hermon Atkins MacNeil (American, 1866-1947) CAROL BROOKS MACNEIL, N.D. Bronzed plaster 14 1/2″ x 8″ x 7 1/2″ Signed: H. A. MACNEIL. Photo by JOEL ROSENKRANZ 1986 (#5430)
THIS UNDATED CLAY PORTRAIT BUST OF
“CARRIE” BY HERMON
“Brooks-by-MacNeil” Portrait
closes Brooks~MacNeil Month ~~ on Feb. 27, 2023
Thanks, Joel Rosenkranz
This photo was included in an email to Jim Haas, MacNeil biographer, and myself from Joel Rosenkranz.
Hi Jim & Dan:
The upcoming exhibition on A.F Brooks in Kenilworth prompted me to go through photos I took in 1986 when I first visited descendants and purchased a variety of work including this portrait of Carol Brooks by Hermon.
It is plaster with a colored bronze surface.
I sold it in 1987 and have no idea where it is now but at least there is this record.
Best, Joel
So on this the 157th Anniversary of Hermon MacNeil’s birth, this portrait seems an appropriate “Last Look” for our Brooks~MacNeil Month of 2023.
Sculpted in clay, finished with bronze patina, the piece radiates a lot of love and care. Bearing no date by Hermon clay-portrait Bust of Carol (Carrie) Brooks MacNeil
NO DATE? Made by her husband, Hermon MacNeil at an unknown date.
WHAT Features might date it?
- it appears to be a “young Carrie” Possibly, dating to her early days before marriage?
- clay, but finished lovingly in a bronze patina;
- but never cast in bronze, which is an expensive process.
- seems to come from a period of a young sculptor, with more talent and more love than cash.
- preserved in unknown hands for 80+ years
- photographed and purchased by Joel Rosenkranz in 1986
- then sold in 1987
- NOW IN A PRIVATE COLLECTION, SOME WHERE, but
- HERE on //HermonAtkinsMacNeil.com FOR ALL TO ENJOY
ALL Offered to you NOW as a celebration of Carol “CARRIE” Brooks MacNeil.
AS OUR FINALE TO THIS
“2023 MACNEIL-BROOKS MONTH”
On the 157th Anniversary of
“Uncle Hermon MacNeil’s birth
February 27th, 1866.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Appeal:
If you have any history or insight about this piece
by Hermon MacNeil, PLEASE COMMENT HERE
or email us at HAMacNeil@gmail.com
Related posts:
- The Portrait “BUST” of HERMON A. MacNEIL ~ by Jo Davidson ~ Unveiled for MacNeil Month 2021 ~#5 (7) AT LAST, the UNVEILING of the 75-YEAR-OLD PORTRAIT BUST OF…
- “Sun Vow” Video Starts MacNeil Month 2015 (6) Here at the HermonAtkinsMacNeil.com website we celebrate every February as…
- 153rd Anniversary of the Birth of Hermon Atkins MacNeil ~ American Sculptor ~ Feb 27, 1866 (6) I never met Hermon MacNeil. I never met my maternal…
- February 27, 2021 – We”ll Unveil the Newly Discovered Portrait Bust of Hermon A. MacNeil by Jo Davidson on Hermon’s Birthday (6) ~~ MacNeil Month – February 27, 2021 ~~ FIFTH Story…
- 2023 “MacNeil~Brooks” Month ~~ Post #1 (6) ‘MacNeil Month’ becomes ‘MacNeil~Brooks Month’ in 2023 Each February is…
- MacNeil Month ~~ February 2016 ~~ 150 Years (5) The year 2016 marks the sesquicentennial of the birth of…
#1. A “Tortoise and Hare” are hiding at the Supreme Court
That’s no FABLE!
They’ve been there for 91 years. Hiding on back of the building.
Can you see them there?
The ‘Hare’ of Aesop’s fable as to ‘Slow but Steady’ Justice.
The ‘Tortoise’ of Aesop’s fable as MacNeil’s Finale of Justice.
Maybe this
HELPS?
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Plus #2 the
‘Supreme Secret’
from the MacNeil Family
Guess, WHO SCULPTED the Tortoise and the Hare on the East Pediment?”
NOW, just this week,
Carolyn Saul (‘Carrie’ MacNeil’s grand niece)
shared a MacNeil family story, 3 generations old.
“I was always told that
Hermon let one of his sons
design the tortoise and the hare.
Have you heard that?
[Yes, I heard that “tender tidbit” that years ago
but it never became a story on this site.]
WHICH son, Claude or Alden, this strain of MacNeil Lore does not say. Claude worked in aviation. Alden was an architect, who formally studied art at Fountainbleu.
The brothers are described in the March 1928 Obituary of their younger sister Joie Katherine MacNeil as follows:
She leaves behind her parents, two brothers, Alden a recent graduate of Cornell University and now a student in the famous Fountainbleu art school, and Claude, an aviator and mechanical engineer on the staff of the Sikorsky Aircraft Manufacturing Company at College Point. Source: The Daily Star, Queens Borough, Tuesday Evening, March 20, 1928. Page 4, column 7.
Alden seems the more probable
of Hermon’s sons to assist in the 1932
rendering of the East Pediment pair
of the Tortoise and Hare.
NOW, Carolyn’s comment validates that idea from
MacNeil-family-lore
through three generations.
~ ~ ~ ~
The MacNeil’s SUPREME COURT statues
“JUSTICE THE GUARDIAN OF LIBERTY”
Are the most viewed pages on this website.
Here’s just two days of page views to sample from MacNeil Month:
| Page Titles viewed on Feb. 10, 2023 |
Views | |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Hermon MacNeil’s Supreme Court Sculptures: ~ ~ ~ Moses Revisited ~ ~ ~ | 6 | |
| 2. Home page / Archives | 5 | |
| 3. Moses, Confucius, and Solon at Supreme Court
TOTALS: |
2
13 |
| Page Titles viewed on Feb. 16, 2023 | Views | |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Home page / Archives | 4 | |
| 2. Tortoise and Hare taken to Supreme Court | 3 | |
| 3. Moses, Confucius, and Solon at Supreme Court | 1 | |
| 4. NSS_Presidents1929~HAM-JEF-AAW-DCF-HA | 1 | |
| 5. Hermon MacNeil’s Supreme Court Sculptures: ~ ~ ~ Moses Revisited ~ ~ ~ | 1 | |
| Total views of posts on your blog | 10 |
#4 ~ Presidents Day 2023 – MacNeil-Brooks Month
By · CommentsHermon MacNeil’s 3 Sculptures
for Presidents Day
2023
Presidents Day honors the February birthdays of
George Washington (Feb 22nd) and
Abraham Lincoln (Feb. 12th)
Presidents’ Day, officially Washington’s Birthday, in the United States,
(third Monday in February)
popularly recognized as honoring
George Washington and Abraham Lincoln.
The day is sometimes understood as a celebration of the
birthdays and lives of all U.S. presidents.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
View MacNeil’s Presidents yourself > > > >
George Washington – Postings of MacNeil’s
George Washington as Commander-in-Chief
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Abraham Lincoln – Postings of MacNeil’s
Abraham Lincoln – Prairie Lawyer
William McKinley – Postings of MacNeil’s
William McKinkey
HAPPY PRESIDENTS DAY 2023
Related posts:
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- Presidents Day 2020 ~~ MacNeil Month ~~ Wm. McKinley ~~ Abe Lincoln ~~ Geo. Washington ~~ “THEY ARE ALL THERE” — H.A MacNeil’s Sculptures of 3 Presidents ~~ (5) “They are still there” celebrates several re-visits and discoveries of…
- Happy Birthday Mr. Washington! ~ Part TWO ~ MacNeil Month #6 ~ The President Who would NOT be King. (4) NOTE: February 22nd marks the 279th Birthday of George Washington….
- INDEPENDENCE DAY Images ~ from Hermon A. MacNeil (4) Here are a few images of Independence from Hermon Atkins…
- Hermon Atkins MacNeil to be featured in “The Galley” (4) Hermon MacNeil was the first president of the Clan MacNeil…
- 153rd Anniversary of the Birth of Hermon Atkins MacNeil ~ American Sculptor ~ Feb 27, 1866 (4) I never met Hermon MacNeil. I never met my maternal…
BACK ROW (lt. to rt.) George Maher, Elizabeth Brooks Maher (I always called her Aunt Bess. I was 16 when she died.), Carrie, Arthur Wyld (my grandfather) and Hermon. On the front row, Frances Brooks Wyld (my grandmother), Ellen Woodworth Brooks (my great grandmother) and Alden Finney Brooks (my great grandfather).
After contacting
Carolyn Saul,
I sent her a family photo
of MacNeil-Brooks faces
that I thought
she could recognize.
~ ~ ~ ~ 0 ~ ~ ~ ~
and sure enough here’s what she said …
In the back row (left to right) Carolyn named her relatives :
- George Maher and
- Elizabeth Brooks Maher (Carolyn’s Aunt Bess)
- Carol Brooks MacNeil (Carolyn’s Great Aunt ‘Carrie’)
- Arthur Wyld (Carolyn’s grandfather)
- Hermon MacNeil (Carolyn’s great uncle by marriage)
Seated in the front row:
- Frances Brooks Wyld (Carolyn’s grandmother),
- Ellen Woodworth Brooks (Carolyn’s great grandmother) and
- Alden Finney Brooks (Carolyn’s great grandfather)
CAROLYN CONTINUED WITH:
Thanks for the photo, too. You probably already know, but the people in the area photo are George Maher, Elizabeth Brooks Maher (I always called her Aunt Bess. I was 16 when she died.), Carrie, Arthur Wyld (my grandfather) and Hermon. On the front row, Frances Brooks Wyld (my grandmother), Ellen Woodworth Brooks (my great grandmother) and Alden Finney Brooks (my great grandfather).
I received the last medallion, thank you! I loved The Galley issue you sent. I appreciate you including it. You have a long way to drive from South Dakota to Virginia! I would love to meet you the next time you come through this way.
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- Hermon Atkins MacNeil: BIOGRAPHY Published !!! (3) Author and historian, James E. Haas has completed “Hermon Atkins…
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- February is “MacNeil Month” (2) One month from today, February 27, 2011 will mark the…
- “Sun Vow” at Reading Public Museum (2) We were recently contacted by John Graydon Smith, CEO…
- The MacNeil’s Chicago Wedding – Christmas Day 1895 (2) I sit here in Chicago during this Christmas Season, imagining…
- MacNeil Medallion finds Carolyn Saul (the Grand Niece of Carrie Brooks) ~~ And Lore of ‘Tortoise & Hare’ ~~ Post #2 of “2023 MacNeil~Brooks Month”
