Archive for September, 2022

Sep

“New York Architectural League Medal” ~Original Clay Models saved from the MacNeil Studio ~ 1947

Posted by: Dan Leininger, Webmaster | Comments (0)

Medal of Honor for Sculpture, Architectural League of New York

Hermon Atkins MacNeil

Artist

Date of Birth

(1866-1947)

Original clay models for the NY Architectural Medal. Photographed by Daniel N. Leininger at the archives of Swope Art Museum in Terra Haute, Indiana in 2012.

In 2012, I visited the Swope Art Museum in Terra Haute Indiana. There I photographed many clay Models rescued from MacNeil’s studio in College Point after his death.

My photos from that day include many familiar works. Some became statues. Others were never awarded commissions. Those were never sculpted full size or cast into bronze.

Of interest here are the Original clay models for the NY Architectural Medal.

SOURCE: All Photos by Daniel N. Leininger at the archives of Swope Art Museum in Terra Haute, Indiana in 2012

Both Obverse and Reverse of the original clay master are seen stored here at Swope Museum in Terra Haute, Ind.

“LEAGUE” becomes “LE[AG]VE” in Beaux Arts script.

MacNeil signature detail of clay Model. ‘FECIT’ is American English of the Latin verb (ˈfeikɪt, English ˈfisɪt). Meaning he made (it); she made (it): formerly used on works of art after the name of the artist.

THE MEDAL SCULPTING PROCESS

IS SHOWN IN THE FOLLOWING VIDEO:

Medal Maker Video

“Medal Maker” VHS of 1997

click here to view

“The Medal Maker” shows how Laura Gardin Frazer makes a clay original model for the National Sculpture Society medal awarded to Daniel Chester French The final bronze casting is pictured above on the video that preserves the original filming of her at work.

The presentation of this first NSS Medal to French honored for his sculptural work of the seated Abraham Lincoln in the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C.

That story was first first told here in 2012 at the following posting:

JOURNEY TO SUPREME COURT: ~ A Stop at Daniel Chester French’s Abe Lincoln ~ Washington D.C. …

Categories : Location

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Sep

This Unique “New York Architectural League” Award Medal links H. A. MacNeil & A. A. Weinman.

Posted by: Dan Leininger, Webmaster | Comments (0)

The Webmaster has obtained an actual medal created by Hermon MacNeil and awarded to his colleague, A. A. Weinman. That medallion was called the:

“New York Architectural League” Award

Of its sculpting and design, Joel Rosenkrantz has said:

“I do think it is an extraordinary medal, wonderful low relief work with a strong sense of perspective. The allegorical figures are just beautifully rendered.” Joel Rosenkranz

But the provenance* of this particular medal is also an extraordinary linkage of these two sculptor-colleagues: * [chronology of the ownership ]

Hermon A. MacNeil

Adolf A. Weinman

The Gold Medal pictured above and below was actually awarded to none other than,

Adolf A. Weinman.

Joel Rosenkranz obtained this piece of Beaux Arts history from a grandson of the renowned sculptor with an accompanying provenance tracing back to his grandfather’s estate.

In 1909, the New York Association of Architects commissioned MacNeil to design this piece.

Of this medal design, Joel Rosenkrantz has said:

“I do think it is an extraordinary medal, wonderful low relief work with a strong sense of perspective. The allegorical figures are just beautifully rendered.” Joel Rosenkranz

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The Obverse of the Award reads in English:

“Architectutal League NY.”

NY Architectural League Medal -observe. [Photo Credit: Joel Rosenkranz, Conner~Rosenkranz, NY, NY.] (www.crsculpture.com)

The Reverse of the Award reads: “statuariae artis peritissimo”

Which translates from Latin as:

“the most skilled in the art of statuary.”

NY Architectural League Medal -Reserve. [Photo Credit: Joel Rosenkranz, Conner~Rosenkranz, NY, NY.] (www.crsculpture.com)

Thus the Award designates the bearer as :

“A Statuary Sculptor of the Highest Skills”

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

These two contemporaries had many

parallel accomplishments.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Weinman

MacNeil

Connections:

Both sculptors designed Coinage.
Both sculptors served the National Sculpture Society as presidents.
Five Presidents of National Sculpture Society. A.A. Weinman in center, H.A. MacNeil to his right. J.E. Frazer (lt) and H. Adams (rt) flack the group as they present Daniel Chester French (2nd lt.) with the National Sculpture Society Medal sculpted by Laura Gardin Frazer in 1929.
Both were awarded the NY Architectural Medal that MacNeil designed.
In 1932 Both sculpted friezes of the United States Supreme Court building in Washington D.C.:
1. Weinman’s frieze is in the Court Chamber.
2. MacNeil’s is the outdoor – East Pediment.
Missouri State Capitol (ca. 1926)
1. [Weinman –South Pediment;
2. MacNeil – West Frieze ]
Both were chosen by the McKim, Mead, and White Architects to complete on projects such as the:
1. Hall of Fame for Great Americans
2. Missouri Capitol Building
1915 Pan-Pacific Exposition in San Francisco. Both Weinman and MacNeil made multiple exhibits overlapping architectural and sculptural history: