Edward Kemeys (January 31, 1843 – May 11, 1907) was an American sculptor[1] and considered America's first animalier.[2]
Kemeys in 1898
He is best known for his sculptures of animals, particularly the two bronze lions that mark the entrance to the Art Institute of Chicago Building in Chicago.[3] Kemeys was also a captain in the 4th United States Colored Heavy Artillery, Company H, writer, lecturer, and adventurer in the Western United States.[4]
Kemeys was born on January 31, 1843, in Savannah, Georgia.[5] to Abby Greene of Providence, Rhode Island, and William Kemeys of Scarborough, New York.[4] The Kemeys family lived in Savannah, but moved back to New York City following the death of his mother in 1843.
Careeredit
Kemeys first worked in the iron business of New York City at age 17.
Civil Waredit
When the American Civil War broke out, Kemeys enlisted at age 19, volunteering for the 65th New York Infantry Regiment. "I served in the Peninsula campaign till I fell sick of fever and was discharged. I went in again later as a second lieutenant," he recalled. Kemeys re-enlisted as a commissioned officer in the 4th United States Colored Heavy Artillery, Company H, where he attained the rank of captain. He resigned his commission in 1866.
In Paris, he was impressed by the style of Antoine-Louis Barye, although in no sense an imitator. He made a specialty of the wild animals of the American continent. His “Fight between Buffalo and Wolves” attracted attention at the Paris Salon in 1878. Among his other important works are “Panther and Deer,” and “Coyote and Raven.” A colossal head of a buffalo for the facade of the station of the Pacific railroad at St. Louis, Missouri, which was cast in bronze in New York in August, 1887, was the largest work of its kind that had been done in the United States. Another bronze statue of a panther named "Still Hunt," is permanently situated on a rock flanking East Drive in Central Park in New York City.
Installation view of the Memorial Exhibition of the Works in Sculpture by the Late Edward Kemeys, Corcoran Gallery of Art, December 15-26, 1907, gelatin silver print, Department of Image Collections, National Gallery of Art Library, Washington, DC
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Edward Kemeys.
Bronze Gallery biography
Smithsonian American Art Museum
April 27, 2024
edward, kemeys, politician, january, 1843, 1907, american, sculptor, considered, america, first, animalier, kemeys, 1898, best, known, sculptures, animals, particularly, bronze, lions, that, mark, entrance, institute, chicago, building, chicago, kemeys, also, . For the politician see Edward Kemeys MP Edward Kemeys January 31 1843 May 11 1907 was an American sculptor 1 and considered America s first animalier 2 Kemeys in 1898 He is best known for his sculptures of animals particularly the two bronze lions that mark the entrance to the Art Institute of Chicago Building in Chicago 3 Kemeys was also a captain in the 4th United States Colored Heavy Artillery Company H writer lecturer and adventurer in the Western United States 4 Contents 1 Early life 2 Career 2 1 Civil War 2 2 After the Civil War 3 Gallery 4 References 5 Furth reading 6 External linksEarly life editKemeys was born on January 31 1843 in Savannah Georgia 5 to Abby Greene of Providence Rhode Island and William Kemeys of Scarborough New York 4 The Kemeys family lived in Savannah but moved back to New York City following the death of his mother in 1843 Career editKemeys first worked in the iron business of New York City at age 17 Civil War edit When the American Civil War broke out Kemeys enlisted at age 19 volunteering for the 65th New York Infantry Regiment I served in the Peninsula campaign till I fell sick of fever and was discharged I went in again later as a second lieutenant he recalled Kemeys re enlisted as a commissioned officer in the 4th United States Colored Heavy Artillery Company H where he attained the rank of captain He resigned his commission in 1866 After the Civil War edit He studied in New York City and then Paris In Paris he was impressed by the style of Antoine Louis Barye although in no sense an imitator He made a specialty of the wild animals of the American continent His Fight between Buffalo and Wolves attracted attention at the Paris Salon in 1878 Among his other important works are Panther and Deer and Coyote and Raven A colossal head of a buffalo for the facade of the station of the Pacific railroad at St Louis Missouri which was cast in bronze in New York in August 1887 was the largest work of its kind that had been done in the United States Another bronze statue of a panther named Still Hunt is permanently situated on a rock flanking East Drive in Central Park in New York City Kemeys died in Washington D C on May 11 1907 5 He and his wife Laura Swing Kemeys also an artist are buried in Arlington National Cemetery Gallery edit nbsp Hudson Bay Wolves 1873 at the Philadelphia Zoo in Philadelphia nbsp Panther and Cubs c 1878 at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City nbsp Prayer for Rain c 1899 at West Side Park in Champaign Illinois nbsp Bronze Bison Sculpture at Humboldt Park Formal Garden in Chicago nbsp Memorial Exhibition of the Works in Sculpture by the Late Edward Kemeys December 1907 at Corcoran Gallery of Art in Washington D C nbsp Installation view of the Memorial Exhibition of the Works in Sculpture by the Late Edward Kemeys Corcoran Gallery of Art December 15 26 1907 gelatin silver print Department of Image Collections National Gallery of Art Library Washington DC nbsp North Lion at the Art Institute of Chicago 1893References edit Edward Kemeys Dead PDF The New York Times May 12 1907 Salmon Robin R 1993 Brookgreen Gardens Sculpture Brookgreen Gardens SC p 10 Lions at the Art Institute of Chicago Archived from the original on 2011 09 08 Retrieved 2011 08 27 a b Richman Michael 1971 Fine Art Source Newsletter Panorama City CA John Alan Walker p 89 a b Edward Kemeys Biography National Museum of Wildlife Art archived from the original on September 21 2011 retrieved August 26 2011 Furth reading editWilson J G Fiske J eds 1892 Kemeys Edward Appletons Cyclopaedia of American Biography New York D Appleton External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Edward Kemeys Bronze Gallery biography Smithsonian American Art Museum Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Edward Kemeys amp oldid 1209380796, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
