Hermon Atkins MacNeil

Hermon Atkins MacNeil (February 27, 1866 – October 2, 1947) was an American sculptor born in Everett, Massachusetts. He is known for designing the ''Standing Liberty'' quarter, struck by the Mint from 1916-1930; and for sculpting ''Justice, the Guardian of Liberty'' on the east pediment of the United States Supreme Court building.

Career

MacNeil graduated from Massachusetts Normal Art School, now Massachusetts College of Art and Design, in 1886, became 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. Returning to America, he aided Philip Martiny (1858–1927) in the preparation of sketch models for the World's Columbian Exposition, and in 1896 he won the Rinehart scholarship, passing four years (1896–1900) in Rome.

In 1906 he became a National Academician. His first important work was ''The Moqui Runner'', which was followed by ''A Primitive Chant'', and ''The Sun Vow'', all figures of the North American Indian. Several of his earlier American Indian sculptures served as the inspiration for his later contribution to the long running Society of Medalists, ''Hopi Prayer for Rain''. ''Fountain of Liberty'', for the Louisiana Purchase Exposition, and other Indian themes came later; his ''Agnese'' and his ''Beatrice'', which are two fine busts of women, and his nude statuettes, which echo his time spent in Rome and Paris, also deserve mention. One of his principal works is the ''William McKinley Monument'' sculpture in Columbus, Ohio, in honor of President William McKinley. In 1909 he won in competition a commission for a large soldiers' and sailors' monument in Albany, New York.

Perhaps his best known work is as the designer of the Standing Liberty quarter, which was minted from 1916 to 1930, and carries his initial to the right of the date. He also made ''Justice, the Guardian of Liberty'' on the east pediment of the United States Supreme Court building.

MacNeil was one of a dozen sculptors invited to compete in the ''Pioneer Woman'' statue competition in 1927, which he failed to win. His work was also part of the art competitions at the 1928 Summer Olympics and the 1932 Summer Olympics.

One of his last works was the Pony Express statue dedicated in 1940 in St. Joseph, Missouri.

Family

His wife, Carol Brooks MacNeil, also a sculptor of distinction, was a pupil of Frederick William MacMonnies and a member of the White Rabbits.

Gallery

File:Marquette Building exterior entry detail - Chicago Illinois.jpg, Jacques Marquette bas-reliefs (1894), Marquette Building, Chicago, Illinois.
File:The Sun Vow 01.jpg, ''The Sun Vow'' (1899), bronze, Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York City.
File:McKinley Memorial Ohio Statehouse.JPG, ''William McKinley Monument'' (1903-1906), Ohio Statehouse, Columbus, Ohio.
File:Coming of the White Man sculpture.jpg, '' Coming of the White Man'' (1904), Washington Park, Portland, Oregon. Chief Multnomah observing the Oregon Trail.
File:VeteransmonumentAlbany.jpg, Soldiers' and Sailors' Monument (1909–1912), Washington Park, Albany, New York.
File:Washington in War MacNeil.jpg, ''Washington as Commander-in-Chief, Accompanied by Fame and Valor'' (1914–1916), Washington Square Arch, Washington Square Park, New York City.
File:"Intellectual Development" statue by Hermon Atkins MacNeil.jpg, ''Intellectual Development'' (1916), Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois.
File:Statue of Ezra Cornell, founder of Cornell University.jpg, Statue of Ezra Cornell (1919), campus of Cornell University
File:Civil War Soldiers and Sailors Monument (Philadelphia) - DSC06751.JPG, Civil War Soldiers' Monument (1921), Benjamin Franklin Parkway, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Carved by the Piccirilli Brothers.
File:White Point Garden, Confederate Defenders of Charleston 2.jpg, ''Confederate Defenders of Charleston'' (1932), Charleston, South Carolina
File:HMcNeil-GRClark.jpg, ''George Rogers Clark'' (1934), George Rogers Clark Memorial, Vincennes, Indiana.
File:Supreme court east facade.jpg, ''Justice, the Guardian of Liberty'' (1935), East Pediment, United States Supreme Court building, Washington, D.C.
File:Pony-express-statue.jpg, ''Pony Express Monument'' (1940), Civic Center Triangle, St. Joseph, Missouri.

References

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External links

''The Sun Vow''

''The Moqui Runner''
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Macneil, Hermon Atkins
1866 births
1947 deaths
American architectural sculptors
19th-century American sculptors
19th-century American male artists
American male sculptors
20th-century American sculptors
20th-century American male artists
People from Everett, Massachusetts
Sculptors from Massachusetts
Massachusetts College of Art and Design alumni
Cornell University faculty
National Sculpture Society members
Coin designers
American currency designers
Olympic competitors in art competitions