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Read the 2009 Friends of Saint-Gaudens friends OF SAINT-GAUDENS CORNISH I NEW HAMPSHIRE I FALL/WINTER 2009 IN THIS ISSUE The Governor Roswell Pettibone Flower Monument I 1 Sculptural Visions 2009 I 5 Welcome New Friends I 6 Exhibitions, Symposia, Tours and Film I 7 SGNHS Announcement – BJ Dunn I 8 FROM THE MEMORIAL AND THE SITE DEAR FRIENDS, We are thrilled at the public exposure Saint-Gaudens and his work are getting this season! Through the exhibition, Augustus Saint- Gaudens at The Metropolitan Museum of Augustus Saint-Gaudens, Governor Roswell Pettibone Flower Monument , Watertown, New York. Archival photo. Art , two symposia on the artist; a bus trip to New York and the release of the new pedestal since 1902. Over the years, it film Augustus Saint-Gaudens: Master of THE GOVERNOR has endured a series of well intentioned, American Sculpture , hundreds of people ROSWELL but inappropriate, attempts at conserva - are being newly introduced (or re-intro - PETTIBONE FLOWER tion. By 2002, the surface was stained duced) to the life and work of one of MONUMENT and corroded, with remnants of old America's greatest sculptors. For more By Rande S. Richardson shellac coatings. With the centennial details, see page 7. Watertown, New York, a small approaching, a grassroots committee On a more personal and bittersweet note, took advantage of a unique opportunity BJ Dunn will be leaving as Superintendent city located 30 miles south of the to conserve the monument in very much of the Saint-Gaudens National Historic Site Canadian border, is home to one the same way that the monument initial - for a Deputy Superintendent position at of Augustus Saint-Gaudens’ ly was created. The goal was to return the Independence National Historical lesser known heroic bronze stat - Saint-Gaudens’ work to its original glory Park in Philadelphia, PA. We offer hearty and to build public awareness of the congratulations and best wishes to BJ as ues, the Governor Roswell significance of the sculpture. he takes this next step in his ascendant Pettibone Flower Monument. career, but do so with some sadness as Roswell Pettibone Flower was born Thanks to a group of citizens and the he has been an excellent advocate for August 7, 1835, near Watertown, the generous backing of the community, this Saint-Gaudens and the Site, an energetic sixth of nine children. After his humble city landmark recently underwent its first partner to the Memorial, and a good beginnings as a jeweler and assistant comprehensive restoration treatment in friend. More details about this change for postmaster, he would later be called a century. BJ and the park are on the back cover. upon to manage the $1 million estate of Sincerely, Located in the center of a major thor - his brother-in-law, Henry Keep. This oughfare and in the city’s Downtown brought him to New York City where he Public Square historic district, the eventually opened the banking house of PBRyEroSnIDBENelT l Saint-Gaudens Memorial sculpture has stood upon its granite R.P. Flower & Co. As the fund grew to (‘ Dear Friend s’continued on page 8) (“ Gov. Pettibone Flower Monument ” continued on page 2) friends OF SAINT-GAUDENS 2 The statue was officially $4 million, he established himself as a New York Times expressed concerns dedicated on Labor Day, 1902. capable financial administrator and about the resulting impact on the stock The unveiling ceremony became known as the “Lion of Wall Street.” market with a headline stating: attracted thousands, and the “A Panicky Feeling in Wall Street due to He later rose work was dubbed Ex-Governor’s Death.” In an official to political “A People’s Memorial.” address made shortly after Flower’s prominence, death, then New York Governor Theodore serving three Roosevelt remarked that Flower was terms in the the high stone pedestal and unusual “a man of great means, whose ambition United States octagonal plot; and James Earle Fraser was more than merely the success of Congress and Henry Hering assisted with the money making; a success comprehended prior to being commission. in the phrase ‘having rendered service to elected the the people’. It is fitting we should honor The statue was lifted into place on 30th his memory.” August 29, 1902 and officially dedicated Governor of on Labor Day, September 1, 1902. The New York, The citizens of his hometown felt very Governor Roswell Pettibone unveiling ceremony attracted thousands, Flower, ca. 1892. Archival photo. serving from much the same way. Two months after and the work was dubbed “A People’s 1892 to 1894. his death, John C. Thompson and Memorial,” given the spirit in which the Charles A. Starbuck, officials of the New monument was made possible. The Many speculated that he would become York Air Brake Corporation, teamed up audience roared in applause when a candidate for President of the United with the Watertown Daily Times to young Frederick Halsey Taylor, grandson States and he was a contender at the launch a subscription campaign “to per - of Gov. Flower, pulled the string to Democratic National Convention in July petuate the memory of Gov. Flower in release the flag veiling the monument. 1884. An Albany, NY newspaper Watertown, where almost every being endorsed his nomination as the was, to a greater or less extent, a recipi - Democratic candidate for President in ent of his bounty.” Following gifts of 1896. He was even featured as one of $500 each from Thompson and several “Presidential Possibilities” on Starbuck, contributions poured in from a series of tobacco trading cards. over 2,200 individuals and organiza - Although a prominent figure in financial tions, ranging from “pennies to a thou - and social circles in New York City and sand dollars.” By November of that Washington, he always maintained a same year, the subscription campaign family home and friendships in had reached its goal of $25,000. Watertown and frequently returned there. Augustus Saint-Gaudens was commis - He and his family were known for their sioned to begin work on the monument many philanthropic endeavors. In addi - in May of 1900. A hand-written letter tion to the funding of the construction from Saint-Gaudens in Paris, dated of Trinity Episcopal Church in Watertown June 12, 1900, confirmed the commis - and a library at Cornell University, he sion. A planned completion date was also made possible the building of New set for September 1, 1901, but was York City’s Saint Thomas House as well subsequently changed to September 1, as Flower Hospital. 1902. Henry Bacon, who later went on Upon his sudden death on May 12, 1899, to be the designer of the Lincoln Saint-Gaudens’ clay models of the statue. he left an estate worth an estimated Memorial in Washington D.C., collabo - Photo courtesy of Dartmouth College Library. $25 million. A front page article in The rated with Saint-Gaudens, contributing friends OF SAINT-GAUDENS 3 Although Saint-Gaudens was unable to the remaining upper attend, he provided a written statement portion of the pedestal. which read, “It is difficult for the artist to Louis also designed two speak of his own work, but I have made standing granite eagles Gov. Flower in the set of delivering an with partially spread address. He is standing by a table with wings. The eagles stood the American flag over it. What I have on either side of the front attempted is the depicting of the large of the elliptical plot. As traits of his character. The statue must increased traffic began show for itself.” Saint-Gaudens’ long- to surround the monument time assistant, Gaëtan Ardisson, attended in the 1950’s, discussion the ceremony in his absence. arose several times about The 4,000-pound, 9-foot sculpture, cast ways to adapt the monu - at the Henry-Bonnard Bronze Company, ment to fit with the times. New York City, has Flower standing Periodically it was sug - with his right hand outstretched and left gested that the monument hand resting on the flag-draped table be moved to an alternate behind him. He wears a long coat and location, but each time the suit. On top of the table rests a hat public protested. Instead, and a large book with an eagle on the the decision was made binding. The granite path leading to to reduce the size of its the monument features an inscription, footprint and remove the “erected in affectionate and grateful two granite eagles. After Augustus Saint-Gaudens, Governor Roswell Pettibone Flower Monument , remembrance of his noble manhood, residing in a storage shed, Watertown, New York, in 2009, after a 6-year "touch up" by Conservation Solutions. Photo by Rande S. Richardson his distinguished public services and his then being transferred to loving kindness to all.” a series of alternate loca - tions, the eagles eventually “disappeared.” from Save Outdoor Sculpture! gave the The bronze statue rests upon a 16,000 Some research indicates that after effort momentum. pound, 9-foot granite pedestal, which leaving Watertown, the eagles made was carved by Buehler & Lanter of The Governor Flower Monument their home in Jacksonville, Florida. New York City from Branford Synite and Centennial Committee held its first official A Florida newspaper reporter tracked Stony Creek granite. On its face, inlaid meeting in April 2002, and formally their last known location to, Manila, bronze letters read, launched a campaign with a $120,000 Arkansas; however, to this day, their goal the following month. The project was whereabouts remain a mystery. “TO ROSWELL PETTIBONE FLOWER, to include treatment of active pitting and BORN AUGUST 7, 1835, DIED MAY In January 2002, a small group of inter - corrosion resulting from several years of 12, 1899, REPRESENTATIVE IN THE ested citizens began meeting to discuss inappropriate treatments and neglect; FORTY SEVENTH AND IN THE FIFTY ways to mark the monument’s centennial replication of the original eagles; improve - FIRST CONGRESS, GOVERNOR OF anniversary.
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