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.''

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, Virginia Culpeper County is a county located along the borderlands of the northern and central region of the Commonwealth of Virginia. As of the 2020 United States Census, the population was 52,552. Its county seat and only incorporated community is Culp ...

, that later became

Rappahannock County Rappahannock County is a county located in the northern Piedmont region of the Commonwealth of Virginia, US, adjacent to Shenandoah National Park. As of the 2020 Census, the population was 7,348. Its county seat is Washington. The name "Rappah ...

. (Alternatively, he was born near Luray in Page County). He was one of the eleven children of Andrew Russell Barbee, Sr. (alternate: Andrew Russel Barbee, Sr.) and Nancy (née Britton) Barbee. Andrew Sr. operated a toll road in the area through

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 Thornton Gap was named for Francis Thornton (1711–April 14, 1749), owner of the land ...

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 Eliza Annie (b. 1813), 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 the offices of Barbee & Cunningham in Moorefield, West Virginia. Upon the death of his father he assumed management of the toll road which his father had controlled. Green Hill Cemetery - Barbee plot

For a time he practiced law in

Luray, Virginia Luray is the county seat of Page County, Virginia, United States, in the Shenandoah Valley in the northern part of the Commonwealth. The population was 4,895 at the 2010 census. The town was started by William Staige Marye in 1812, a descendant ...

, 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 in 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 The United States House of Representatives, often referred to as the House of Representatives, the U.S. House, or simply the House, is the lower chamber of the United States Congress, with the Senate being the upper chamber. Together they ...

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 (, ; born Amonute, known as Matoaka, 1596 – March 1617) was a Native American woman, belonging to the Powhatan people, notable for her association with the colonial settlement at Jamestown, Virginia. She was the daughter of ...

) 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

Mary's Rock is said to be named for either Barbee's wife, Mary, or the daughter of Frances Thornton. Barbee's son,

Herbert Herbert may refer to: People Individuals * Herbert (musician), a pseudonym of Matthew Herbert Name * Herbert (given name) * Herbert (surname) Places Antarctica * Herbert Mountains, Coats Land * Herbert Sound, Graham Land Australia * Herbert ...

, went on to become a sculptor as well; he erected 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 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 ...

Legacy

Barbee's birthplace is denoted by a marker (Marker Number C 56.), erected 1972 by the Virginia Historic Landmarks Commission, located at inside

Shenandoah National Park Shenandoah National Park (often ) is an American national park that encompasses part of the Blue Ridge Mountains in the Commonwealth of Virginia. The park is long and narrow, with the Shenandoah River and its broad valley to the west, and the ...

on the border of Page County and Rappahannock County at the cross over of Lee Highway (U.S. 211) and

Skyline Drive Skyline Drive is a National Parkway 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 drive's northern terminus is a ...

, several miles east of the town of Luray.

References

External links

William Randolph Barbee
at Find A Grave {{DEFAULTSORT:Barbee, William Randolph People from Rappahannock County, Virginia People from Luray, Virginia 1818 births 1868 deaths Neoclassical sculptors Sculptors from Virginia Virginia lawyers People from Moorefield, West Virginia 19th-century American sculptors 19th-century American male artists American male sculptors 19th-century American lawyers University of Richmond alumni