Larkin Goldsmith Mead
|
Larkin Goldsmith Mead, circa 1862. |
Larkin Goldsmith Mead (
January 3 1835 -
1910) was an
American sculptor.
He was born at
Chesterfield, New Hampshire, and was a pupil (1853-1855) of Henry Kirk Brown. During the early part of the
American Civil War he was at the front for six months, with the
army of the Potomac, as an artist for
Harper's Weekly; and in 1862-1865 he was in
Italy, being for part of the time attached to the United States consulate at
Venice, while William D. Howells, his brother-in-law, was consul. He returned to America in 1865, but subsequently went back to Italy and lived at
Florence.
His first important work was a statue titled "Agriculture' to top the dome of the
Vermont State House at
Montpelier, Vermont. This work proved so successful that he was soon after commisioned to sculpt a statue of
Ethan Allen for the Vermont State House. Mead's work can be seen as
neoclassical. Among his most famous wporks is the "Greek Slave" sculpted 1841-1843. This piece became an
Abolitionist favorite and reproductions appeared in many of the Union supporting state houses. His principal works are: the monument to
President Lincoln,
Springfield, Illinois; Ethan Allen (1876),
Statuary Hall, Capitol, Washington; an heroic marble statue,
The Father of Waters, New Orleans; and
Triumph of Ceres, made for the
World's Columbian Exposition,
Chicago, and a bust of Martin Van Buren located in the Red Room at the
White House.
His brother
William Rutherford Mead (1846-1928) was a well-known architect.
* [
1] State House Statues by Larkin Goldsmith Mead, Jr.
* [
2] National Park Service Lincoln birthplace site
* [
3] Standing Lincoln by Mead at Lincoln gravesite
