Adolph Alexander Weinman (1870-1952)
was an American sculptor of German origin; he was born on 11 Born December 1870 in Karlsruhe, Germany, but spent most of his life in the United States of America, where he died in 1953. At the age of ten years, his family emigrated with him to the USA. At the age of 15, he attended evening classes at Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art. Later he studied with Auguste Saint-Gaudens and Philip Martiny statuary at the Art Students League. In later years he worked as an assistant to Olin Warner, Charles Niehaus and Daniel Chester French. A first studio the artist could open in 1904. Today he is mainly known as medalist. For the 31 years embossed half dollar, he designed the motif "Walking Liberty". Weinman`s Walking Liberty was also used for the Silver Eagle. Besides, he designed the artwork for the U.S. dime and various medals for the military.
The life of Adolph Alexander Weinman
Against the reputation as a medalist he has vehemently referred. He called himself an architectural sculptor. As a model he booked, as well as many of his colleagues, Audrey Munson (1891-1996). Munson was an artist who was model for more than 15 statues. His architectural results can be found in Wisconsin, Missouri and Louisiana State buildings. Many of his works are commissions, such as the sculptures for the Manhattan Municipal Building, the Madison Square Presbyterian Church, the Prison Ship Martyrs Monument and Pennsylvania Railway Station in New York. He also made sculptures for the Elks National Veterans Memorial in Chicago, the relief of the Jefferson figure and the Lincoln Memorial in Washington DC and sculptures for the building of the U.S. Supreme Court.
Influences on his works
In 1949 he was given the honor to exhibit with other artists at the 3rd International Sculpture in the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Weinman is known for a lyrical sounding neoclassical style. His figures bear Greek or Roman clothes and are often characterized by an athletic look. Weinman died on 8 August 1952. He was a member of the Sculpture Society, the American Academy of Arts and Letters, the Institute of Arts and Letters and the Academy of Design. In our shop you can find statues like Rising Sun and Descending Night in high quality.