Harriet Whitney Frishmuth
Encyclopedia
Harriet Whitney Frishmuth (September 17, 1880 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
– 1980 Connecticut
) was an American sculptor known for her works in bronze.
She studied briefly with Rodin at the École des Beaux-Arts
in Paris
, for two years with Euchtriz in Berlin, and at the Art Students League of New York
under Gutzon Borglum
and Hermon Atkins MacNeil
. While in New York she worked as an assistant to the sculptor Karl Bitter and performed dissections at the College of Physicians and Surgeons.
Her first commissioned piece was in 1910, from the New York County Medical Society
who commissioned her to do a bas-relief. She also modeled ashtrays, bookends, and small figures for Gorham
; these early pieces are highly sought after by collectors. Her career grew steadily and she became well known for her beautiful renderings of females in bronze, particularly dancers (Desha Delteil
frequently modeled for her). Her small bronzes were sought after by private collectors and by museum
s, and her large bronzes often found a central place in elaborate garden settings
.
Her work was exhibited at the National Academy of Design
, the Academy of Fine Arts in Philadelphia, the Salon in Paris, the Golden Gate International Exposition
(1939–1940) and the National Association of Women Painters and Sculptors. One of her last exhibits was in New York City
in 1929; although she remained active in the art world for decades afterwards, the Great Depression
affected her livelihood and she closed her New York studio in the 1930s and returned to Philadelphia.
She had a studio at Sniffen Court in New York City
.
Harriet Frishmuth scorned modern art
and was quite outspoken on the subject, calling it "spiritless" (she was equally outspoken in her dislike of the word "sculptress"). She received a number of recognitions and honors over the course of her career: the St. Gaudens
prize (while still a student), several awards from the National Academy of Design
, a prize from the Grand Central Art Galleries
, an honorable mention from the Golden Gate International Exposition, and the Joan of Arc Silver Medal from the National Association of Women Painters and Sculptors. "The Vine" (1923), a larger-than-life-size bronze considered one of her finest pieces, is in the American wing of the Metropolitan Museum of Art
.
Her papers are held at Syracuse University
.
She is buried at Laurel Hill Cemetery, Philadelphia.
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Philadelphia County, with which it is coterminous. The city is located in the Northeastern United States along the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers. It is the fifth-most-populous city in the United States,...
– 1980 Connecticut
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
) was an American sculptor known for her works in bronze.
Life
École des Beaux-Arts
École des Beaux-Arts refers to a number of influential art schools in France. The most famous is the École nationale supérieure des Beaux-Arts, now located on the left bank in Paris, across the Seine from the Louvre, in the 6th arrondissement. The school has a history spanning more than 350 years,...
in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, for two years with Euchtriz in Berlin, and at the Art Students League of New York
Art Students League of New York
The Art Students League of New York is an art school located on West 57th Street in New York City. The League has historically been known for its broad appeal to both amateurs and professional artists, and has maintained for over 130 years a tradition of offering reasonably priced classes on a...
under Gutzon Borglum
Gutzon Borglum
Gutzon de la Mothe Borglum was an American artist and sculptor famous for creating the monumental presidents' heads at Mount Rushmore, South Dakota, the famous carving on Stone Mountain near Atlanta, as well as other public works of art.- Background :The son of Mormon Danish immigrants, Gutzon...
and Hermon Atkins MacNeil
Hermon Atkins MacNeil
Hermon Atkins MacNeil was an American sculptor born in Chelsea, Massachusetts.He was an instructor in industrial art at Cornell University from 1886 to 1889, and was then a pupil of Henri M. Chapu and Alexandre Falguière in Paris...
. While in New York she worked as an assistant to the sculptor Karl Bitter and performed dissections at the College of Physicians and Surgeons.
Her first commissioned piece was in 1910, from the New York County Medical Society
New York County Medical Society
The New York County Medical Society is a professional membership organization for physicians who live or work in the Borough of Manhattan. As such, it is part of the larger network of medical organizations which includes the American Medical Association and the Medical Society of the State of New...
who commissioned her to do a bas-relief. She also modeled ashtrays, bookends, and small figures for Gorham
Gorham Manufacturing Company
The Gorham Manufacturing Company is an American manufacturer of sterling and silverplate.-History:Gorham Silver was founded in Providence, Rhode Island 1831 by Jabez Gorham, a master craftsman, in partnership with Henry L. Webster. The firm's chief product was spoons of coin silver. The company...
; these early pieces are highly sought after by collectors. Her career grew steadily and she became well known for her beautiful renderings of females in bronze, particularly dancers (Desha Delteil
Desha Delteil
Desha Delteil was an American dancer and artists' model.She was born in Yugoslavia and studied under Michel Fokine, eventually becoming first dancer in his company...
frequently modeled for her). Her small bronzes were sought after by private collectors and by museum
Museum
A museum is an institution that cares for a collection of artifacts and other objects of scientific, artistic, cultural, or historical importance and makes them available for public viewing through exhibits that may be permanent or temporary. Most large museums are located in major cities...
s, and her large bronzes often found a central place in elaborate garden settings
Garden design
Garden design is the art and process of designing and creating plans for layout and planting of gardens and landscapes. Garden design may be done by the garden owner themselves, or by professionals of varying levels of experience and expertise...
.
Her work was exhibited at the National Academy of Design
National Academy of Design
The National Academy Museum and School of Fine Arts, founded in New York City as the National Academy of Design – known simply as the "National Academy" – is an honorary association of American artists founded in 1825 by Samuel F. B. Morse, Asher B. Durand, Thomas Cole, Martin E...
, the Academy of Fine Arts in Philadelphia, the Salon in Paris, the Golden Gate International Exposition
Golden Gate International Exposition
The Golden Gate International Exposition , held at San Francisco, California's Treasure Island, was a World's Fair that celebrated, among other things, the city's two newly-built bridges. The San Francisco – Oakland Bay Bridge was dedicated in 1936 and the Golden Gate Bridge was dedicated in 1937...
(1939–1940) and the National Association of Women Painters and Sculptors. One of her last exhibits was in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
in 1929; although she remained active in the art world for decades afterwards, the Great Depression
Great Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
affected her livelihood and she closed her New York studio in the 1930s and returned to Philadelphia.
She had a studio at Sniffen Court in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
.
Harriet Frishmuth scorned modern art
Modern art
Modern art includes artistic works produced during the period extending roughly from the 1860s to the 1970s, and denotes the style and philosophy of the art produced during that era. The term is usually associated with art in which the traditions of the past have been thrown aside in a spirit of...
and was quite outspoken on the subject, calling it "spiritless" (she was equally outspoken in her dislike of the word "sculptress"). She received a number of recognitions and honors over the course of her career: the St. Gaudens
Augustus Saint-Gaudens
Augustus Saint-Gaudens was the Irish-born American sculptor of the Beaux-Arts generation who most embodied the ideals of the "American Renaissance"...
prize (while still a student), several awards from the National Academy of Design
National Academy of Design
The National Academy Museum and School of Fine Arts, founded in New York City as the National Academy of Design – known simply as the "National Academy" – is an honorary association of American artists founded in 1825 by Samuel F. B. Morse, Asher B. Durand, Thomas Cole, Martin E...
, a prize from the Grand Central Art Galleries
Grand Central Art Galleries
The Grand Central Art Galleries were the exhibition and administrative space of the nonprofit Painters and Sculptors Gallery Association, an artists' cooperative established in 1922 by Walter Leighton Clark together with John Singer Sargent, Edmund Greacen, and others...
, an honorable mention from the Golden Gate International Exposition, and the Joan of Arc Silver Medal from the National Association of Women Painters and Sculptors. "The Vine" (1923), a larger-than-life-size bronze considered one of her finest pieces, is in the American wing of the Metropolitan Museum of Art
Metropolitan Museum of Art
The Metropolitan Museum of Art is a renowned art museum in New York City. Its permanent collection contains more than two million works, divided into nineteen curatorial departments. The main building, located on the eastern edge of Central Park along Manhattan's Museum Mile, is one of the...
.
Her papers are held at Syracuse University
Syracuse University
Syracuse University is a private research university located in Syracuse, New York, United States. Its roots can be traced back to Genesee Wesleyan Seminary, founded by the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1832, which also later founded Genesee College...
.
She is buried at Laurel Hill Cemetery, Philadelphia.
External links
- Heritage Auction Prices Realized Archive (with photos and descriptions) for Harriet Frishmuth sculpture sold since October 2004
- small bronze of two dancers by Frishmuth
- photograph of Desha Deltiel posing for "The Vine" (George Eastman House collections)
- James and Gayle Halperin Collection (Dallas, Texas)