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Horatio Greenough

Horatio Greenough (1805 - 1852) was active/lived in Massachusetts / Italy.  Horatio Greenough is known for Marble portrait sculpture.

Horatio Greenough, described as the "first American to make sculpture his exclusive profession" (Tolles, 3) was born in Boston.  He was one of the earliest American artists to receive a national commission.

Urged by his wealthy family and by the painter Washington Allston to study art, Greenough, after graduation from Harvard, went to Italy in 1825 for two years.  He made a second trip in 1828, and this time remained until a year before his death.

Greenough is best known for his toga and sandal-clad statue of George Washington, inspired by the statue of Zeus at Olympia by the ancient Greek sculptor Phidias.

Commissioned by Congress in 1832, the Washington sculpture was designed to stand in the rotunda of the United States Capitol, but depicting a national hero in semi-nudity aroused such controversy that the statue was removed to the Smithsonian Institution.

While working in Washington D.C., Greenough was friends with the portraitist Charles Bird   ...  [Displaying 1000 of 2017 characters.]  Artist bio

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Facts about Horatio Greenough

   Horatio Greenough  Born:  1805 - Boston, Massachusetts
Died:   1852 - Somerville, Massachusetts
Known for:  Marble portrait sculpture

Horatio Greenough, described as the "first American to make sculpture his exclusive profession" (Tolles, 3) was born in Boston.  He was one of the earliest American artists to receive a national commission.

Urged by his wealthy family and by the painter Washington Allston to study art, Greenough, after graduation from Harvard, went to Italy in 1825 for two years.  He made a second trip in 1828, and this time remained until a year before his death.

Greenough is best known for his toga and sandal-clad statue of George Washington, inspired by the statue of Zeus at Olympia by the ancient Greek sculptor Phidias.

Commissioned by Congress in 1832, the Washington sculpture was designed to stand in the rotunda of the   ...  Displaying 750 of 2017 characters.

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