Postcard #1 ~ ~ “The Sun Vow” ~ ~ H. A. MacNeil (in b&w)
By
“The Sun Vow” By Hermon Atkins MacNeil is seen here in an early B&W Photograph Postcard probably dating from 1929 the year of the Exhibition of California Palace of Legion of Honor, San Francisco. The photo itself dates from 1900. (Postcard owned by Gib Shell, KC, MO)
This is a real photo postcard of the
California Palace of the Legion of Honor San Francisco, California.
This is from the Exhibition of sculpture in 1929
Photographed by Gabriel Moulin
for the National Sculpture Society of America.
This sculpture is named Sun Vow by artist Hermon A. MacNeil.
Photographer: Gabriel Moulin.
This is the first MacNeil Postcard of a monthly series on this website. Digital images of several old postcards have been contributed to us for use here. They will highlight his sculptures and public monuments over the years.
Lorado Taft published this picture in his 1903 book, the History of American Sculpture. That book and this same picture were re-published in 1924, and 1930. It does little to flatter this sculpture which is the most photographed of all of MacNeil’s works. Here is a more colorful rendering.
Image credits: Gib Shell for this old MacNeil Postcard
and the colorful photo as well! Thanks Gib!
"The Sun Vow" at the Art Institute of Chicago (Photo Cortesy of Gibson Shell, KC MO)
D.M.
Thanks for noticing sculpture around you and sharing the information.
The ‘Chief Multnomah’ is the larger Half of H. A.MacNeil’s “The Coming of the White Man.” (COTWM)
While the COTWM piece is only at the Washington Park in Portland, OR, where it was commissioned for that city.
The original plaster sculpture model is in the Poppenhusen Institute in Queens, NYC, just blocks from MacNeil’s studio.
(See this link to an archive of seven post on this work.) http://hermonatkinsmacneil.com/category/location/portland-location/page/2/
There are multiple castings of this single piece, the “Chief Multnomah”, possibly over 20 in total. I believe there are at lease two groupings of 12 casts and 9 casts of this statue. I have found information and location on three other ‘Multnomah’s. Plus there are many smaller (half-scale) casts of this sculpture.
What do you like to sculpt, DLM? I would be interested.
Could you get some photos of this Vernom, NJ Piece.
I would be excited to post them here if you give permission.
Thanks again.
Dan Leininger
I’ve been noticing a magnificent piece of the scultpture for the past few years, located in Vernon N.J. at the Minerals Spa and Resort. After closer examination I discovered it is Chief Multnomah with his arms crossed, standing on tip toes looking outward. “The coming of the white man” is the title usually ascribed to this work, but in this case the chief stands alone without his scout or assistant as pictured on your web-site. It is signed simply, H.A. Macneil S.C. 04. Just thought it was a variation of the piece that you might find interesting.I’m not really sure how long its been there, because I’m relatively new to the area. Being a sculptor myself and one that is particularly fond on the late 19th cent/early 20th cent period, with the likes of Rodin, Bayre, Dega, etc. Macneil certainly is a strong and salutory member of that period. Regards, D. Moldoff.