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Those of you who love Frishmuth’s The Vine may enjoy this article on the artist by Joseph G. Dreiss: “The Sculpture of Harriet Whitney Frishmuth and New York Dance.” It includes some charming quotes by Frishmuth and descriptions of her favorite model. I used the images below in last month’s post on The Vine. The Eastman House’s archive of photos of Desha Delteil includes the study photo of Desha posing for The Vine. (As of 5/13/2019, I can no longer find these online.)

Here are some supplementary notes and images for the Dreiss article.

• Frishmuth studied in New York with Gutzon Borglum, who’s famous for Mount Rushmore, but who also sculpted Major-General Daniel Butterfield, now in Sakura Park. See Outdoor Monuments of Manhattan #52.
• Frishmuth also studied with Herman A. MacNeil, who sculpted the figure of Washington as commander-in-chief on the Washington Arch: see Outdoor Monuments of Manhattan. MacNeil sculpted the Sun Vow, which you may have seen in the American Wing Courtyard at the Metropolitan Museum, and/or in Luc Travers’s Touching the Art (which I recommend, if you enjoy thinking about art). Also in New York, MacNeil sculpted the Flushing War Memorial in Queens and four busts in the Hall of Fame of Great Americans in the Bronx: James Monroe, Francis Parkman, Roger Williams (the other Roger Williams), and Rufus Choate.
• Frishmuth worked as an assistant to Karl Bitter, who sculpted the the group of Peace on the Appellate Court (25th / Madison), the figures of Peace and Strength flanking the Great Seal of the United States on the cornice of the Customs House, General Franz Sigel (Riverside Drive / 106th St.), and the Pulitzer Fountain (Fifth Avenue / 59th). The Pulitzer Fountain was completed by assistants after Bitter became one of NYC’s earliest automobile fatalities.
• Among many other works, Edward McCartan, one of Frishmuth’s neighbors at Sniffen Court, created the bust of Washington Irving at the Hall of Fame. (Yes, you should go visit that place.)
• Malvina Hoffman, another of Frishmuth’s neighbors at Sniffen Court, was a well-known sculptor, responsible for the Thomas Paine and Henry David Thoreau sculptures at the Hall of Fame. The MMA has a number of her works.
• Frances Grimes, who sent Desha Delteil to Frismuth, sculpted two busts at the Hall of Fame: Charlotte Cushman (who was a friend of Emma Stebbins, and may have been the model for the Bethesda Fountain angel) and Emma Willard. The MMA has a few of her works.
• Frishmuth’s Extase, for which Desha modeled, is mentioned but not illustrated in the Dreiss article. A 20-inch copy was sold in 2012 for $32,500 at Christie’s. (I would have expected a better pic from Christie’s!)
• Re Michel Fokine: I don’t know enough about dance before his time to tell how from a video how his movements are different from those of classical ballet, but since I adore Rachmaninoff’s Variations on a Theme of Paganini, here it is with Fokine’s choreography. Don’t miss the paragraph below the video that describes Fokine’s interaction with Rachmaninoff.

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• My favorite book on American representational artists of the early 20th century is Conner and Rosenkranz’s Rediscoveries in American Sculpture: Studio Works, 1893-1939. If I didn’t need it as a reference work, I’d cut out the fantastic photos by David Finn and frame them. The Conner Rosenkranz gallery is well worth a visit: MacMonnies, Saint Gaudens, Daniel Chester French, Frishmuth … You never know who you’ll find, and they’ll be delighted to talk with you about them. The Mears plaque of Saint Gaudens with the Sherman Monument that I posted about in April was on display at Conner Rosenkranz.
• In Getting More Enjoyment from Sculpture You Love, I demonstrate a method for looking at sculptures in detail, in depth, and on your own. Learn to enjoy your favorite sculptures more, and find new favorites. Available on Amazon in print and Kindle formats. More here.
• Want wonderful art delivered weekly to your inbox? Check out my free Sunday Recommendations list and rewards for recurring support: details here.