Augustus Saint-Gaudens

Augustus Saint-Gaudens by Kenyon Cox

Saint-Gaudens (March 1, 1848 – August 3, 1907) was an American sculptor of the Beaux-Arts generation who most embodied the ideals of the “American Renaissance”. Raised in New York City, he traveled to Europe for further training and artistic study, and then returned to New York, where he achieved major critical success for his monuments commemorating heroes of the American Civil War, many of which still stand. In addition to his famous works such as the Robert Gould Shaw Memorial on Boston Common and the outstanding grand equestrian monuments to Civil War generals John A. Logan, atop a pedestal done by the architectural firm of McKim, Mead and White.

Saint-Gaudens also designed the statue of Diana that crowned Stanford White’s Madison Square Garden. The two men were fast friends and brothers of vice as founding members of the Sewer Club.