Katherine Lane Weems
Encyclopedia
Katharine Lane Weems was an American sculptor famous for her work in bronze, especially for her realistic portrayals of animals.
Weems was born in Boston, the only child of Gardiner Martin and Emma Louise (Gildersleeve) Lane, and received an elite education typical for wealthy women of her class. Her father was president of the Board of Trustees of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
http://www.bronze-gallery.com/sculptors/artist.cfm?sculptorID=112 and her grandfather was classicist Basil Lanneau Gildersleeve
. She studied art at the Boston Museum School
under Charles Grafly
and George Demetrios and also studied at the summer studios of Anna Hyatt Huntington
. http://www.askart.com/AskART/artists/biography.aspx?artist=60876 http://www.aaa.si.edu/collections/digitalcollections/digital_collections.cfm/fuseaction/Collections.ViewCollection/CollectionID/8603 Like many woman artists of the period, Weems often faced hostility because of her gender. However, she received support from two prominent female artists of the time: Huntington and Brenda Putnam
, both of whom were working in New York. http://www.askart.com/AskART/artists/biography.aspx?artist=60876
In 1926 she won two medals: a Bronze Medal at the Philadelphia Sesquicentennial Exposition
, and the George D. Widener Memorial Gold Medal
from the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts
. In 1947 she married Carrington Weems and exhibited as Katharine Ward Lane as well as Katharine Lane Weems. She created the six dolphins outside the New England Aquarium
(Dolphins of the Sea, 1977), and the Lotta Fountain at the Boston Esplanade Plaza. She served as a member of the Massachusetts Arts Commission 1941-1947, and was elected to the National Association of Women Painters and Sculptors in 1925 and to the National Institute of Arts and Letters in 1952. Her papers are archived at Harvard University
.
for the Biological Laboratories built in the early 1930s. Funded by a $12 million grant from the Rockefeller Foundation
, the labs were state of the art. It was decided that such a lavish facility should have art that would be equally striking, and Weems was chosen to carry out a number of projects. http://www.mcb.harvard.edu/NewsEvents/News/Rhinos.html
First, she made the carved bronze doors at the entrance to the labs, now the Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, (MCB). Next, she executed a series of friezes showing over 30 kinds of wildlife. This involved using pneumatic drills to carve images of animals in brick at the top of the buildings. She combined realistic and Art Deco styles and relied on a large group of construction workers to carry out the project. The economics of the Great Depression
made it possible to carry out this project on a grander scale than would otherwise have been the case. Wages were lower, workers plentiful, and raw materials cheaper. http://www.mcb.harvard.edu/NewsEvents/News/Rhinos.html
In preparation for this project, she studied animals at the Bronx Zoo
in New York City
and also Japanese
and Chinese
treatments of animals, especially those found on Han Dynasty
tomb
s. She had also studied ancient Egyptian and Indian artistic presentations of animals. [Ambler, 31-33]
The third part of the Biological Laboratories project proved to be the most popular: Bessie and Victoria, two rhinoceros
sculptures made of bronze and weighing 3 tons each. They are displayed in the courtyard of MCB. Weems worked on these two for five years and finally had them unveiled on May 12, 1937.
From 2003 to 2005, they were removed from the courtyard so as to be protected from any possible damage during the construction of Harvard's new mouse laboratory. http://www.mcb.harvard.edu/NewsEvents/News/Rhinos.html
On May 11, 2007, the Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology held a birthday celebration for Bessie and Victoria. Featured speakers included E.O. Wilson, Woody Hastings and Deborah Dluhy http://www.mcb.harvard.edu/NewsEvents/News/Rhinos2.html The two rhinos were decorated in makeup, jewellery and skirts for the festivity.
Weems was born in Boston, the only child of Gardiner Martin and Emma Louise (Gildersleeve) Lane, and received an elite education typical for wealthy women of her class. Her father was president of the Board of Trustees of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
The Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, Massachusetts, is one of the largest museums in the United States, attracting over one million visitors a year. It contains over 450,000 works of art, making it one of the most comprehensive collections in the Americas...
http://www.bronze-gallery.com/sculptors/artist.cfm?sculptorID=112 and her grandfather was classicist Basil Lanneau Gildersleeve
Basil Lanneau Gildersleeve
Basil Lanneau Gildersleeve , was an American classical scholar.-Biography:He was born in Charleston, South Carolina to Emma Louisa Lanneau and Benjamin Gildersleeve...
. She studied art at the Boston Museum School
School of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
The School of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston is an undergraduate and graduate college located in Boston, Massachusetts, dedicated to the visual arts. It is affiliated with the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston and offers undergraduate and graduate degree programs in partnership with Tufts University...
under Charles Grafly
Charles Grafly
Charles Allan Grafly, Jr. was an American sculptor and educator. He taught at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts for 37 years.-Life and career:...
and George Demetrios and also studied at the summer studios of Anna Hyatt Huntington
Anna Hyatt Huntington
Anna Vaughn Hyatt Huntington was an American sculptor.-Life and career:Huntington was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Her father, Alpheus Hyatt, was a professor of paleontology and zoology at Harvard University and MIT, and served as a contributing factor to her early interest in animals and...
. http://www.askart.com/AskART/artists/biography.aspx?artist=60876 http://www.aaa.si.edu/collections/digitalcollections/digital_collections.cfm/fuseaction/Collections.ViewCollection/CollectionID/8603 Like many woman artists of the period, Weems often faced hostility because of her gender. However, she received support from two prominent female artists of the time: Huntington and Brenda Putnam
Brenda Putnam
Brenda Putnam Noted American sculptor and author. Born into a well connected family, she was the daughter of Herbert Putnam and granddaughter of George Palmer Putnam.Her work can be seen at Syracuse University's Carnegie Library....
, both of whom were working in New York. http://www.askart.com/AskART/artists/biography.aspx?artist=60876
In 1926 she won two medals: a Bronze Medal at the Philadelphia Sesquicentennial Exposition
Sesquicentennial Exposition
The Sesqui-Centennial International Exposition of 1926 was a world's fair hosted in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the signing of the United States Declaration of Independence, and the 50th anniversary of the 1876 Centennial Exposition-History:The honor of hosting...
, and the George D. Widener Memorial Gold Medal
Widener Gold Medal
The George D. Widener Memorial Gold Medal was an award for sculpture established in 1912 by the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts.The award recognizes the "most meritorious work of Sculpture modeled by an American citizen and shown in the Annual Exhibition"...
from the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts
Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts
The Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts is a museum and art school in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It was founded in 1805 and is the oldest art museum and school in the United States. The academy's museum is internationally known for its collections of 19th and 20th century American paintings,...
. In 1947 she married Carrington Weems and exhibited as Katharine Ward Lane as well as Katharine Lane Weems. She created the six dolphins outside the New England Aquarium
New England Aquarium
The New England Aquarium is an aquarium located in Boston, Massachusetts.In addition to the main aquarium building, attractions at the New England Aquarium include the Simons IMAX Theatre and the New England Aquarium Whale Watch, which operates from April through November...
(Dolphins of the Sea, 1977), and the Lotta Fountain at the Boston Esplanade Plaza. She served as a member of the Massachusetts Arts Commission 1941-1947, and was elected to the National Association of Women Painters and Sculptors in 1925 and to the National Institute of Arts and Letters in 1952. Her papers are archived at Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
.
Works at Harvard
Weems's works have an important place in many public spaces in the Boston area. Her largest project was to provide the art at Harvard UniversityHarvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
for the Biological Laboratories built in the early 1930s. Funded by a $12 million grant from the Rockefeller Foundation
Rockefeller Foundation
The Rockefeller Foundation is a prominent philanthropic organization and private foundation based at 420 Fifth Avenue, New York City. The preeminent institution established by the six-generation Rockefeller family, it was founded by John D. Rockefeller , along with his son John D. Rockefeller, Jr...
, the labs were state of the art. It was decided that such a lavish facility should have art that would be equally striking, and Weems was chosen to carry out a number of projects. http://www.mcb.harvard.edu/NewsEvents/News/Rhinos.html
First, she made the carved bronze doors at the entrance to the labs, now the Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, (MCB). Next, she executed a series of friezes showing over 30 kinds of wildlife. This involved using pneumatic drills to carve images of animals in brick at the top of the buildings. She combined realistic and Art Deco styles and relied on a large group of construction workers to carry out the project. The economics of 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...
made it possible to carry out this project on a grander scale than would otherwise have been the case. Wages were lower, workers plentiful, and raw materials cheaper. http://www.mcb.harvard.edu/NewsEvents/News/Rhinos.html
In preparation for this project, she studied animals at the Bronx Zoo
Bronx Zoo
The Bronx Zoo is located in the Bronx borough of New York City, within Bronx Park. It is the largest metropolitan zoo in the United States, comprising of park lands and naturalistic habitats, through which the Bronx River flows....
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...
and also Japanese
Japanese people
The are an ethnic group originating in the Japanese archipelago and are the predominant ethnic group of Japan. Worldwide, approximately 130 million people are of Japanese descent; of these, approximately 127 million are residents of Japan. People of Japanese ancestry who live in other countries...
and Chinese
Chinese people
The term Chinese people may refer to any of the following:*People with Han Chinese ethnicity ....
treatments of animals, especially those found on Han Dynasty
Han Dynasty
The Han Dynasty was the second imperial dynasty of China, preceded by the Qin Dynasty and succeeded by the Three Kingdoms . It was founded by the rebel leader Liu Bang, known posthumously as Emperor Gaozu of Han. It was briefly interrupted by the Xin Dynasty of the former regent Wang Mang...
tomb
Tomb
A tomb is a repository for the remains of the dead. It is generally any structurally enclosed interment space or burial chamber, of varying sizes...
s. She had also studied ancient Egyptian and Indian artistic presentations of animals. [Ambler, 31-33]
Rhinos
Rhinoceros
Rhinoceros , also known as rhino, is a group of five extant species of odd-toed ungulates in the family Rhinocerotidae. Two of these species are native to Africa and three to southern Asia....
sculptures made of bronze and weighing 3 tons each. They are displayed in the courtyard of MCB. Weems worked on these two for five years and finally had them unveiled on May 12, 1937.
From 2003 to 2005, they were removed from the courtyard so as to be protected from any possible damage during the construction of Harvard's new mouse laboratory. http://www.mcb.harvard.edu/NewsEvents/News/Rhinos.html
On May 11, 2007, the Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology held a birthday celebration for Bessie and Victoria. Featured speakers included E.O. Wilson, Woody Hastings and Deborah Dluhy http://www.mcb.harvard.edu/NewsEvents/News/Rhinos2.html The two rhinos were decorated in makeup, jewellery and skirts for the festivity.
Awards and honors
- 1926. Bronze Medal at the Philadelphia Sesquicentennial ExpositionSesquicentennial ExpositionThe Sesqui-Centennial International Exposition of 1926 was a world's fair hosted in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the signing of the United States Declaration of Independence, and the 50th anniversary of the 1876 Centennial Exposition-History:The honor of hosting...
- 1926. Widener Medal at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine ArtsPennsylvania Academy of the Fine ArtsThe Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts is a museum and art school in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It was founded in 1805 and is the oldest art museum and school in the United States. The academy's museum is internationally known for its collections of 19th and 20th century American paintings,...
- 1965. Creation of permanent gallery at Boston Museum of ScienceMuseum of Science, BostonThe Museum of Science is a Boston, Massachusetts landmark, located in Science Park, a plot of land spanning the Charles River. Along with over 500 interactive exhibits, the Museum features a number of live presentations throughout the building every day, along with shows at the Charles Hayden...
which showcases her small animal bronzes - 1987. Creation of the Katharine Lane Weems Chair in Decorative Arts at Museum of Fine Arts in Boston.
Collections
- Museum of Fine Arts in Boston,
- Brook Green Gardens in South Carolina,
- The Pennsylvania Academy,
- The Baltimore Museum,
- Museum of Science, BostonMuseum of Science, BostonThe Museum of Science is a Boston, Massachusetts landmark, located in Science Park, a plot of land spanning the Charles River. Along with over 500 interactive exhibits, the Museum features a number of live presentations throughout the building every day, along with shows at the Charles Hayden...
Public Works
- Dolphins of the Sea, six dolphins at the New England AquariumNew England AquariumThe New England Aquarium is an aquarium located in Boston, Massachusetts.In addition to the main aquarium building, attractions at the New England Aquarium include the Simons IMAX Theatre and the New England Aquarium Whale Watch, which operates from April through November...
- Lotta Fountain, Charles River Esplanade, Boston, with architect Edwin DodgeEdwin Dodge- Personal background :Dodge was born into a wealthy family of Newburyport, Massachusetts, the son of the manufacturer Elisha Perkins Dodge. He trained as an architect at MIT, graduating in 1897. In 1902, he graduated from the Ecole des Beaux-Arts in Paris....
, 1939 - Animal friezes at the Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology