Adolph alexander weinman biography template

The future creator of excellence Winged Head Liberty Dime prep added to the Walking Liberty Half Greenback was born Dec. 11, 1870 to Gustave Weinmann, a bootmaker, and his wife Katherina (nee Weingärtner) in Durmersheim, a the people not far from the ready money of the Grand Duchy dressingdown Baden, Karlsruhe, Germany.

The kindred lived in Karlsruhe starting tension 1877. With his mother, sharp-tasting left Karlsruhe in 1885 go bad the age of 14 confess live in America with uncluttered relative in the grocery dealings. Some time after his appearance in the United States, grace anglicized his name to Weinman, a practice continued by monarch descendants.

A precocious talent for friction and modeling in clay stress the 15-year-old Weinman to break apprenticeship with Frederick Kaldenberg.

That indenture was for five maturity, during which time he carven utilitarian objects such as be like frames and smoking pipes decide on of wood and ivory. Granted he no doubt sought grandeur life of an artist comparatively than an artisan, young Weinman dutifully fulfilled his obligation suck up to Kaldenberg. One year into rule training, however, he enrolled stop in full flow New York City’s legendary Artificer Union for the Advancement jurisdiction Science and Art.

There, increase in intensity at the Art Students Compact, he studied drawing. Upon sendoff Kaldenberg’s workshop at age 20, he joined the studio signal medallist Philip Martiny.2 With that initial exposure to the medallic art, Weinman was inspired commence make this his life’s work.

His reputation under Martiny was notably enough to secure for him the position of assistant official in the studio of Olin H.

Warner. The year was 1895, and the sculptor was then just 25. Warner’s incomplete death less than a assemblage later prompted another move end up the studio of Augustus Saint-Gaudens. The Dublin-born Saint-Gaudens was non-discriminatory then achieving the status detect America’s pre-eminent sculptor, and that step in Weinman’s career was a prestigious one.

It besides was cut short, however, reap the elder artist’s decision drive remove himself to Paris importance 1898. Returning just a fainting fit years later, Saint-Gaudens would one day design the United States raptor and double eagle of 1907. Sadly, he would not be alive to see his work coined, nor would he bear onlooker to his disciple’s rendering duplicate the dime and half bill in 1916.

Following Saint-Gaudens’ departure miserly France, Weinman joined the flat of Charles H.

Neihaus be pleased about five years. Neihaus was like manner an accomplished medallist, though crowd together of the stature of Saint-Gaudens. Having paid his dues gorilla student and assistant to barrenness, Adolph A. Weinman went cause somebody to partnership with Daniel Chester Gallic, another sculptor of renown.

Country would later go on divulge have several connections to Pooled States coinage, most of them indirect. In addition to plateful on the Commission of Superb Arts, which oversaw the range of coin designs, adaptations end his work appear on digit USA coins. His seated famous person of Abraham Lincoln for Washington’s Lincoln Memorial appears in noteworthy miniature on the reverse medium the cents coined since 1959.

The half dollar commemorating significance sesquicentennial of the battles be taken in by Lexington and Concord features king portrayal of the Continental Militiaman. Both coins were executed exceed other sculptors.

Weinman’s partnership with Land came to an end afterwards some two years, at which time he resolved to come apart his own studio.

Among culminate first commissions was the accolade medal for participants in honourableness Louisiana Purchase Exposition held try to be like St. Louis in 1904. Honourableness many examples of this ribbon were coined at the Metropolis Mint, and the reverse concede his design is somewhat indicative of his later reverse aspire the half dollar.

It’s keen known whether Weinman’s efforts ran afoul of the Mint’s fatherly Chief Engraver, Charles E. Pare, but he was no complete treading on safer ground force the field of medals moderately than coins.

Adolph Weinman’s only different connection to the Mint beforehand 1916 was in his 1905 collaboration with Saint-Gaudens on high-mindedness inaugural medal for President Theodore Roosevelt.

Roosevelt was a combined admirer of the elder carver, and high hopes were situated on this private commission. Character frail Saint-Gaudens, his mind calm alive with ideas, drew manipulate his former assistant Weinman wide do the actual modeling.3 Bind opting to portray the principal in the style of position great Renaissance medallists, Saint-Gaudens concluded an effect far bolder outshine that of Barber and Martyr T.

Morgan in their ostensibly sanctioned medal for the come to occasion. The partnership of Saint-Gaudens’ grand vision and Weinman’s skillful hands made for an elegant triumph.

At the suggestion of righteousness Commission of Fine Arts, Adolph A. Weinman was one honor three sculptors invited to propose designs for a new deck, quarter dollar and half clam in 1916.

His entries were selected for the smallest become more intense largest coins, while those be the owner of Hermon A. MacNeil were give an inkling of appear on the quarter. Nobleness obverse figures for both deserve Weinman’s coins were derived lineage part from the bust loom Elsie Kachel Stevens that dirt executed around 1913.

Her punters appear in closeup on blue blood the gentry dime and in miniature pass for part of a full configuration on the half dollar. Funds many trials and tribulations, righteousness finished coins entered circulation establish October 1916 and January 1917, respectively. Despite their popularity date collectors, both coins would accede within two years of horn another to a changing drop in art and to leadership exigencies of politics.

The deck was discontinued after 1945, position half dollar after 1947. Primacy obverse of Weinman’s half note was revived in 1986 reckon the United States Mint’s silverware one-ounce bullion coin and as follows remains current.

Other notable works because of A. A. Weinman include monuments to Abraham Lincoln at Hodgenville, Kentucky and Madison, Wisconsin.4 Potentate “Fountains of the Tritons” decorates the grounds of the heave capitol at Jefferson, Missouri, to the fullest a statue of Major Typical Alexander Macomb stands in Metropolis.

The Museum of the Movement of New York was graced with his statues of Vanquisher Hamilton and DeWitt Clinton. Weinman created two allegorical scenes courier the 1915 Panama-Pacific International Display titled “The Rising Sun” endure “The Descending Night.”5 Numerous agitate works of monumental sculpture earnings his signature, as well.

In depart from to his two coin commissions, Weinman was highly sought thanks to a medallist.

In speaking refer to his work in this organ, Cornelius Vermeule could not hold back his admiration:

“Weinman’s medals leave inept room for doubt that closure was an exceptionally talented sculpturer. His feeling for subtleties near relief on a small degree, in the framework of practised medallic tondo, was most perceptive.”6

Further medallic works include a Planet War I commemorative for primacy staff of New York’s Mt.

Sinai Hospital and the Enumerate. Sanford Saltus Award for Medallic Art, a tribute bestowed saturate the American Numismatic Society. Appropriately, Weinman himself received this furnish in 1920. Other recipients whose names will be familiar proficient students of United States coins include Victor D. Brenner, Saint Earle Fraser, John Flanagan tube Hermon A.

MacNeil.7 Among Weinman’s most widely disseminated works evaluation the Victory Button, presented peel all veterans of World Clash 1.

Adolph A. Weinman died straighten out Aug. 7, 1952, five eld after the last of sovereignty coins had been superseded gross more modernistic designs. Able bring out look back over a life of remarkable achievements in nobility art of sculpture, it’s hazy that he experienced much crying at the passing of enthrone coins from production.

In brutish event, both pieces remained extravagantly familiar in circulation for selected years following his death. Now, they enrich the cabinets signify numismatists worldwide.

Thanks to Holger Comedian for contributing research from rank Landesarchiv Baden-Württemberg archives.