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The Life and Works of Augustus Saint Gaudens
Critically acclaimed work, nominated for Pulitzer Prize in 1986, offers full, accurate life of great American sculptor. Vividly evokes the cultural milieu of the day; full treatment of Saint Gaudens’ major works, much more. "A great deal of worthwhile material...enhanced by first-rate photographs."—The New York Times. 64 black-and-white photographs. Notes. Index.
480 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1992
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
January 12, 2018
3.5 stars.
I was prompted to read more about Saint Gaudens through happenstance. In 2o14 on a visit to Washington DC I took a ghost tour of Lafayette Square behind the White House. In a nearby courtyard that we couldn't enter in the evening our tour guide told us about a statue in the courtyard called 'Grief'. Through the bars I could only catch the shadows of the looming hooded figure that intrigued me. Every now and then I thought about the statue wishing I had the chance to actually see it up close. In 2017 while planning a road trip to New England the Saint Gaudens National Historic Site, being the only NPS stop in New Hampshire was added to the list of places to visit. Doing research before the trip I discovered he was the artist behind the statue in the courtyard of DC. On my visit to Aspet, his home and studio, I fell in love with the place. I just had to know more about the person behind all of this which led me to reading this book.
The book itself frustrated me in the sense of how it was configured. Instead of having all of the pictures thrown in the middle, I wish they were spread throughout the book. The writing is also a bit jumpy but it was still an intriguing read.
I was prompted to read more about Saint Gaudens through happenstance. In 2o14 on a visit to Washington DC I took a ghost tour of Lafayette Square behind the White House. In a nearby courtyard that we couldn't enter in the evening our tour guide told us about a statue in the courtyard called 'Grief'. Through the bars I could only catch the shadows of the looming hooded figure that intrigued me. Every now and then I thought about the statue wishing I had the chance to actually see it up close. In 2017 while planning a road trip to New England the Saint Gaudens National Historic Site, being the only NPS stop in New Hampshire was added to the list of places to visit. Doing research before the trip I discovered he was the artist behind the statue in the courtyard of DC. On my visit to Aspet, his home and studio, I fell in love with the place. I just had to know more about the person behind all of this which led me to reading this book.
The book itself frustrated me in the sense of how it was configured. Instead of having all of the pictures thrown in the middle, I wish they were spread throughout the book. The writing is also a bit jumpy but it was still an intriguing read.
May 17, 2016
I finished "The Life and Works of Augustus Saint Gaudens" today and have to say that I thoroughly enjoyed it. He was an unbelievably talented, fascinating, and flawed man and Burke Wilkinson did a wonderful job telling his story. I am on the hunt now for more books written by Wilkinson as I very much enjoyed his writing style. If sculpture, art in general, the late 1800's and early 1900's, and interesting personal life tidbits are something that interest you I'd definitely recommend this book.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews