Hermon Atkins MacNeil

Hermon Atkins MacNeil
MacNeil,c. 1907
Born	(1866-02-27)February 27, 1866 Everett, Massachusetts,U.S.
Died	October 2, 1947(1947-10-02)(aged 81) Queens,New York City, U.S.
Resting place	Woodlawn Cemetery Everett, Massachusetts
Nationality	American
Known for	Sculpture
Notable work	Standing Liberty Quarter Justice, the Guardian of Liberty

Hermon Atkins MacNeil(February 27, 1866 – October 2, 1947) was an Americansculptorborn inEverett,Massachusetts. He is known for designing theStanding Libertyquarter,struck by the Mint from 1916–1930; and for sculptingJustice, the Guardian of Libertyon the east pediment of theUnited States Supreme Court building.

Career

TheStanding Liberty Quarter(1916), has the initial of designer Hermon Atkins MacNeil on its obverse, above and to the right of the date.

MacNeil graduated fromMassachusetts Normal Art School,nowMassachusetts College of Art and Design,in 1886,became an instructor in industrial art atCornell Universityfrom 1886 to 1889, and was then a pupil ofHenri M. ChapuandAlexandre FalguièreinParis.Returning to America, he aidedPhilip Martiny(1858–1927) in the preparation of sketch models for theWorld's Columbian Exposition,and in 1896 he won the Rinehart scholarship, passing four years (1896–1900) inRome.

In 1906 he became a National Academician. His first important work wasThe Moqui Runner,which was followed byA Primitive Chant,andThe Sun Vow,all figures of the NorthAmerican Indian.Several of his earlier American Indian sculptures served as the inspiration for his later contribution to the long runningSociety of Medalists,Hopi Prayer for Rain.Fountain of Liberty,for theLouisiana Purchase Exposition,and other Indian themes came later; hisAgneseand hisBeatrice,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 theWilliam McKinley Monumentsculpture inColumbus, Ohio,in honor of PresidentWilliam McKinley.In 1909 he won in competition a commission for a large soldiers' and sailors' monument inAlbany, New York.

Perhaps his best known work is as the designer of theStanding Liberty quarter,which was minted from 1916 to 1930, and carries his initial to the right of the date. He also madeJustice, the Guardian of Libertyon the east pediment of theUnited States Supreme Court building.

MacNeil was one of a dozen sculptors invited to compete in thePioneer Womanstatue competition in 1927,which he failed to win. His work was also part of the art competitions at the1928 Summer Olympicsand the1932 Summer Olympics.

One of his last works was thePony Expressstatue dedicated in 1940 inSt. Joseph, Missouri.

Family

His wife,Carol Brooks MacNeil,also a sculptor of distinction, was a pupil ofFrederick William MacMonniesand a member of theWhite Rabbits.

Gallery

• 
  Jacques Marquette bas-reliefs (1894),Marquette Building,Chicago, Illinois.
• 
  The Sun Vow(1899), bronze,Metropolitan Museum of Art,New York City.
• 
  William McKinley Monument(1903–1906),Ohio Statehouse,Columbus, Ohio.
• 
  Coming of the White Man(1904),Washington Park,Portland, Oregon. Chief Multnomah observing theOregon Trail.
• 
  Soldiers' and Sailors' Monument (1909–1912),Washington Park,Albany, New York.
• 
  Washington as Commander-in-Chief, Accompanied by Fame and Valor(1914–1916),Washington Square Arch,Washington Square Park, New York City.
• 
  Intellectual Development(1916),Northwestern University,Evanston, Illinois.
• 
  Statue of Ezra Cornell(1919), campus ofCornell University
• 
  Civil War Soldiers' Monument (1921),Benjamin Franklin Parkway,Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Carved by thePiccirilli Brothers.
• 
  Confederate Defenders of Charleston(1932), Charleston, South Carolina
• 
  George Rogers Clark(1934),George Rogers Clark Memorial,Vincennes, Indiana.
• 
  Justice, the Guardian of Liberty(1935), East Pediment,United States Supreme Court building,Washington, D.C.
• 
  Pony Express Monument(1940), Civic Center Triangle, St. Joseph, Missouri.

References

• Holden, Jean Stansbury (October 1907)."The Sculptors MacNeil".The World's Work: A History of Our Time.XIV:9403–9419.RetrievedJuly 10,2009.
• This article incorporates text from a publication now in thepublic domain:Chisholm, Hugh,ed. (1911). "Macneil, Hermon Atkins".Encyclopædia Britannica.Vol. 17 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 265.

External links

• The Sun Vow
• The Moqui Runner
• Evans, Hilary; Gjerde, Arild; Heijmans, Jeroen;Mallon, Bill;et al."Hermon Atkins MacNeil".Olympics at Sports-Reference.com.Sports Reference LLC.Archived fromthe originalon August 17, 2011.