William Randolph Barbee
Encyclopedia
William Randolph Barbee (January 17, 1818 – June 16, 1868) was an American sculptor recognized for creating idealized, sentimental classical figures. Barbee's most notable works were the marble sculptures entitled Coquette and Fisher Girl.
, that later became Rappahannock County
. He was one of the eleven children of Andrew Russell Barbee, Sr. (alternate: Andrew Russel Barbee, Sr.) and Nancy (nee Britton) Barbee. Andrew Sr. operated a toll road in the area through Thornton Gap
and the Barbee family resided at a lodge at the edge of the road. His siblings included brothers George (b. 1811), Ely (b. 1812), Col. Gabriel Thomas (1814–1908), Lewis Conner (1821–1877), Dr. Andrew Russell, Jr.
(1827–1903), and Joseph (b. 1832); and sisters Ellam (b. 1815), Mary (b. 1823), Maratha (b.1828), Laurina Caroline (b. 1829), and Adaline Catherine (b. 1831).
. Upon the death of his father he assumed management of the toll road which his father had controlled.
For a time he practiced law in Luray, Virginia
, where he owned the Annie Printz House between 1853 and 1855. In the mid-1850s he moved to Florence, Italy, where he acquired a studio. Barbee's most notable works were marble sculptures entitled Coquette and Fisher Girl. Fisher Girl can today be found on display in the east wing of the 2nd floor of the Smithsonian American Art Museum
. He also completed a plaster bust of James L. Orr, Speaker of the United States House of Representatives.
Barbee returned to the United States in 1858. He had commenced working on a design for the pediment of the U.S. House of Representatives when the outbreak of the Civil War halted his plans. He also left two major works unfinished at his death, The Star of the West (a depiction of Pocahontas
) and The Lost Pleiad. He died near Luray at a place known as “The Bower” and was buried in Green Hill Cemetery there in 1868.
is said to be named for either Barbee's wife, Mary, or the daughter of Frances Thornton.
Barbee's son, Herbert
, went on to become a sculptor as well; he built a bust of his father on location at the rock. Barbee was the nephew of General Patrick Henry Brittan
, 10th Secretary of State of Alabama
.
on the border of Page County
and Rappahannock County at the cross over of Lee Highway (U.S. 211) and Skyline Drive
, several miles east of the town of Luray.
Biography
The family descends from John Barbee, of French-Huguenot ancestry, who settled in Virginia. Barbee was born in "Hawburg", in a part of Culpeper County, VirginiaCulpeper County, Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 34,262 people, 12,141 households, and 9,045 families residing in the county. The population density was 90 people per square mile . There were 12,871 housing units at an average density of 34 per square mile...
, that later became Rappahannock County
Rappahannock County, Virginia
As of the census of 2010, there were 7,373 people, 2,788 households, and 2,004 families residing in the county. The population density was 26 people per square mile . There were 3,303 housing units at an average density of 12 per square mile...
. He was one of the eleven children of Andrew Russell Barbee, Sr. (alternate: Andrew Russel Barbee, Sr.) and Nancy (nee Britton) Barbee. Andrew Sr. operated a toll road in the area through Thornton Gap
Thornton Gap
Thornton Gap is a wind gap located in the Blue Ridge Mountains in Virginia separating the Shenandoah Valley from the Piedmont region of the state.-History:...
and the Barbee family resided at a lodge at the edge of the road. His siblings included brothers George (b. 1811), Ely (b. 1812), Col. Gabriel Thomas (1814–1908), Lewis Conner (1821–1877), Dr. Andrew Russell, Jr.
Andrew Russell Barbee, Jr.
Dr. Andrew Russell Barbee, Jr. was a surgeon in the Confederate service during the American Civil War. He was president of the U. S. Board of Pension Examiners, and secretary of the State Board of Health...
(1827–1903), and Joseph (b. 1832); and sisters Ellam (b. 1815), Mary (b. 1823), Maratha (b.1828), Laurina Caroline (b. 1829), and Adaline Catherine (b. 1831).
Career
He studied at Richmond College and began working in he offices of Barbee & Cunningham in Moorefield, West VirginiaMoorefield, West Virginia
Moorefield is a town in Hardy County, West Virginia, USA. Moorefield is the county seat of Hardy County. It was originally chartered in 1777 and named for Conrad Moore, who owned the land upon which the town was laid out...
. Upon the death of his father he assumed management of the toll road which his father had controlled.
For a time he practiced law in Luray, Virginia
Luray, Virginia
Luray is a town in Page County, Virginia, United States, in the Shenandoah Valley of the northern part of the state. It is also the county seat...
, where he owned the Annie Printz House between 1853 and 1855. In the mid-1850s he moved to Florence, Italy, where he acquired a studio. Barbee's most notable works were marble sculptures entitled Coquette and Fisher Girl. Fisher Girl can today be found on display in the east wing of the 2nd floor of the Smithsonian American Art Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
The Smithsonian American Art Museum is a museum in Washington, D.C. with an extensive collection of American art.Part of the Smithsonian Institution, the museum has a broad variety of American art that covers all regions and art movements found in the United States...
. He also completed a plaster bust of James L. Orr, Speaker of the United States House of Representatives.
Barbee returned to the United States in 1858. He had commenced working on a design for the pediment of the U.S. House of Representatives when the outbreak of the Civil War halted his plans. He also left two major works unfinished at his death, The Star of the West (a depiction of Pocahontas
Pocahontas
Pocahontas was a Virginia Indian notable for her association with the colonial settlement at Jamestown, Virginia. She was the daughter of Chief Powhatan, the head of a network of tributary tribal nations in Tidewater Virginia...
) and The Lost Pleiad. He died near Luray at a place known as “The Bower” and was buried in Green Hill Cemetery there in 1868.
Personal life
Barbee died at "The Bower" located close to his birthplace. Mary's RockMary's Rock
Mary's Rock, also known as Marys Rock, is a 3,514-foot tall mountain in Shenandoah National Park. The peak is just south of the Thornton Gap Entrance of the park, and north of the taller Pinnacle...
is said to be named for either Barbee's wife, Mary, or the daughter of Frances Thornton.
Barbee's son, Herbert
Herbert Barbee
Herbert Barbee was an American sculptor from Luray, Virginia. He was the son of William Randolph Barbee , also a renowned sculptor, who he studied with in Florence, Italy for sometime. One author said of him, "Herbert Barbee made stone speak as life...
, went on to become a sculptor as well; he built a bust of his father on location at the rock. Barbee was the nephew of General Patrick Henry Brittan
Patrick Henry Brittan
General Patrick Henry Brittan was born in Thornton Gap, Virginia on September 21, 1815.-Biography:He learned printing in Washington, D.C. and then migrated to Columbus, Georgia in 1839 to practice his trade. He married Ora Williams of Morgan County, Georgia in that same year. They would have nine...
, 10th Secretary of State of Alabama
Secretary of State of Alabama
The Secretary of State of Alabama is one of the constitutional officers of the U.S. state of Alabama. The office actually predates the statehood of Alabama, dating back to the Alabama Territory. From 1819 to 1901, the Secretary of State served a two-year term until the State Constitution was...
.
Legacy
Barbee's birthplace has a marker (Marker Number C 56.), erected 1972 by the Virginia Historic Landmarks Commission, located at38°39′38"N 78°19′14"W inside Shenandoah National ParkShenandoah National Park
Shenandoah National Park encompasses part of the Blue Ridge Mountains in the U.S. state of Virginia. This national park is long and narrow, with the broad Shenandoah River and valley on the west side, and the rolling hills of the Virginia Piedmont on the east...
on the border of Page County
Page County, Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 23,177 people, 9,305 households, and 6,634 families residing in the county. The population density was 74 people per square mile . There were 10,557 housing units at an average density of 34 per square mile...
and Rappahannock County at the cross over of Lee Highway (U.S. 211) and Skyline Drive
Skyline Drive
Skyline Drive is a 105-mile road that runs the entire length of the National Park Service's Shenandoah National Park in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia, generally along the ridge of the mountains. The scenic drive is particularly popular in the fall when the leaves are changing colors...
, several miles east of the town of Luray.
External links
- William Randolph Barbee at Find A GraveFind A GraveFind a Grave is a commercial website providing free access and input to an online database of cemetery records. It was founded in 1998 as a DBA and incorporated in 2000.-History:...