I PO R'I RAIT OF K ARL B ITT ER ( 19 12)
' l PORI R\- IT OF K ARL B ITTER ( 19 12)
CONTENTS
PAGE LIST OF ILLUSTRATION S
CHRON OLOGICAL LIST OF THE WORKS OF KARL BITTER
CON CISE TABLE OF BIOGRAPHICAL DATA AND LEADIN G HON ORS
E OF I E I . THE WHE L L F
IEN NA II . V
A OF REED OM III . THE L ND F
TRUGGLE AND U ESS N THE EW ORLD IV . S S CC N W
THE PAN - AMERICAN E! POSITION : CLIMA! AND END OF THE DECORATIVE PERIOD
H E EN UR : NEW Ams AND OLD RESPON VI . T E N W C T Y SIB ILITIE S
PUBLIC SERVICES AND PUBLIC COMMISSION S
FINALE : THE MAN AND HIS ORK VIII . W
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
FRON TISPIECE
‘ v I . PORTRAIT OF KARL BITTER (1912)
AT THE END OF THE BOOK
2 AI F 1 . PORTR T O K ARL BITTER ( 90 7)
OMPETITION ANE L FOR TH E RINI TY ATES a C P T G , Lower Bro d
- ( C u “ Wa Y or k i J/V J t r t cf , 4 y, New C ty
RINI TY ATE r oadwa Y r k i T G , Lower B y, New o C ty
EDIMEN T s la ia ailr a a i l lhi a P , Penn y v n R o d St t on, Phi ade p ,
NDIRON il r a li a A , B tmor e, No th C ro n
OUN TAIN il t a li F , B tmore, Nor h C ro na l l i D R. EPPER ila hi a e s a P , Ph de p , P nn y v n a
UL PTURE On e i s li s SC ( of Four F gure ) , Metropo tan Mu eum of i Art, New York C ty
EWEY R H ATTLE ROUP D A C , B G
- - I I . TANDARD EARER Pan r i x si i B fi lo S B , Ame can E po t on, u a , New York
12 . HAN ATOS UB BARD EMORIAL li r T , H M , Montpe er, Ve mont
ILLARD EMORIAL l ll V M , S eepy Ho ow, New York
DETAIL OP VILL ARD MEMORIAL
GDEN ABLET i O T , New York C ty
ERRON ABLET Ar t n s i i a a li s dia a H T , I t tute, Ind n po , In n
OUN TAIN a hi F , D yton, O o
. . B OY ORTRAIT ROUP MRS . RAN E AND P G , C R C
vn L I S T O F I L L U S T R A T I O N S
PORTRAIT BU ST OF MRS. EDWIN EMERSON i i UISIAN A UR HASE ROUP . us iss r LO P C G , St Lo , M ou
ENERAL IGEL i r si r i r i G S , R ve de D ve, New Yo k C ty
2 2 o . HEAD r CARL ScH URz
ScHURz ONUMENT r i si a i M , Mo n ng de P rk, New York C ty
ScHURz PAN EL
ScHURz PAN EL
ARYATID S ir s a i al a l la i C , F t N t on B nk , C eve nd, Oh o
LE! ANDER AMILTON r s l la i A H , Cou t Hou e , C eve nd , Oh o
HOMAS E ERSON i rsi i i i a ar l esvill T J FF , Un ve ty of V rg n , Ch ott e,
D R. N GELL EM RIAL i i A M O , Ann Arbor, M ch gan
PEDn IEN T i lat adiso is si , Cap to M n, W con n
ETAIL or LowRY ON UMENT in a lis in es a D M , M ne po , M n ot
IAN A in r z D , Statuette B on e
REHN EMORIAL assai s P M , P c , New Jer ey
DETAIL OP PREHN MEMORIAL
ASSON EM RIAL ti a K M O , U c , New York
F ARDE S OP OHN . O E E ER R. FOUN TAIN OR THE G N J D R CK F LL , J , a i ills Poc nt co H , New York
K ET F R THE PEW F UN TAm di a a lis ia a S CH O DE O , In n po , Ind n
IGU R THE LA!A OUN TAIN i F RE (Unfinished) FO P F , New York C ty
PEN D RAm
HOUSE AT WEEHAWKEN (Studio Buildi ng Concealed behi nd CHRONOLOGICAL LIST OF THE WORKS OF KARL BITTER
The a es i ica e as far as ossi e the ear c m e i . The li is n ot exhaus ( d t nd t , p bl , y of o pl t on st m r i e no a e a i ee made i c u e mi la rs. t v , tt pt h v ng b n to n l d no bo )
r ‘ P I COM ETIT ON PAN EL FOR THE I RIN ITY GATES.
HEROIC GROUPS FOR TH E ADMIN ISTRATION BUILDIN G OF THE ’
ORLD S AIR i a . W F , Ch c go
SCUL PTURAL DECORATION S FOR THE RESIDEN CE OF C . P .
UN TIN GTON i . H , New York C ty V EDIMENT AITIN G- OOM ANE L an d l s P , W R P , Other Scu pture for
s la ia ail a a i ila lhi a. the Penn y v n R ro d St t on, Ph de p
TRINITY ATE i . G , New York C ty
SCULPTURAL DECORATION S FOR TH E RESIDEN CES OF GEORGE il . AN DERBILT t i n d r t W V a New York C ty a B tmo e, Nor h r li Ca o na.
i . HREE ARY TI S . l ildi T C A D , St Pau Bu ng , New York C ty l il . TATUE OF D R. ILLIAM EPPER a hi a S W P , Ph de p 7
ULPTURAL E ORATION S FOR THE E SID EN E OF OUIS SC D C R C L :
TERN i . S , New York C ty 4
I i se . OUN TAIN FOR A OB . H F a F J C H SC F , Se br ght, New Jer y
ATTLE R UP F R THE EWEY R H i . B G O O D A C , New York C ty
PU LPIT AN D CHOIR RAI AllAn els Church New ~l , _ L,_— g n o f -l ! ROUP EA E llat i isi G P C , Appe e D v on of the Supreme Court, i New York C ty .
FOUR FIGURES ON THE FAgAD E OF THE METROPOLITAN
USEUM OF ART i . M , New York C ty
MOUN TED STAN DARD- BEARERS FOR THE PAN - AM ERICAN
I N B l. E! POSIT O , ufia o C H R O N O L O G I C A L L I S T O F WO R K S
1 0 2 . U ST OF M RS. IEDEN BURG i 9 B S , New York C ty .
RE KENRID GE EMORI L BL T A A E . B C M T , Annapolis
CAM . Mm 1 0 . OHN UBBARD MORI L li E A . 9 3 J H M , Montpe er, Vermont
vur ROUP IN ARBLE FOR THE HAMB ER F OMMER G M C O C CE , New
AR E AN E F ID N M O BL L OR THE E S E E OF RS . O DYEAR M P R C G , Bufialo , New York .
r u r w 1 0 . OUISIAN . A UR SE U T . i i J C HA ON MEN s i . ( 9 4 L P C M , St Lou , M ssour
m. MEm. I F LLARD EMORIAL l ll so . V M , S eepy Ho ow Cemetery on the Hud n
EBE A OSTER EM RIAL imi al r ildi R CC F M O , Cr n Cou t Bu ng, New i York C ty .
PORTRAIT BU ST OF OLIVER HARRIMAN BABY .
‘ m! c 1 06 . ROUP FO T T TES U ST M OU SE 9 G R THE UN I ED S A C O H , New York
City .
AM P R AI HAR ES . RANE AN D B OY . PO TR T GROUP OF M RS. C L R C
m ’ 1 i m n 0 . UE STR T T E RAL IGEL . 9 7 E! IAN S A UE OF G NE S , New York C ty
ABLET FOR OBERT GDEN i . T R O , New York C ty
i 1 0 i i a a l a iso . 8. EST IN G DIMEN T s 9 W W PE , W scon n St te C p to , M d n
IAN I . B UST OF D R. KIL
E v MODEL FOR HENRY HUD SON STATU .
T U HE IRST ATION AL AN K UIL DIN G GRANI E GRO PS FOR T F N B B ,
l l hi . C eve and , O o
UN TAIN FOR EMETERY a hi . FO C , D yton , O o l c w LL L W RIAL s a a a . I I . A D EM W AM H B IN M O , Tu kegee, A b m
HIN ES IGURES l s i . FOUR C E F , Brook yn Art In t tute
AST IN G EDIMEN T is nsi a a i l adi s . 1910 . E W P , W co n St te C p to , M on
i i . ORIAL TO R. N GELL a MEM D A , Ann Arbor, M ch g n
D S D IELD a s for LOR S SOMER AN MAN SF , St tue the County l l hi s a . Court Hou e, C eve nd , O o
! C H R O N O L O G I C A L L I S T O F W O R K S
If ?“ 1 11. REHN AU SOLEUM assai s 9 P M , P c, New Jer ey .
U ST OF M S . DW R B R E IN EME SON .
ORTRAIT IN E LIE OF MR. ASSATT ila lhi a P , R F, C , Ph de p ,
1M TWO ARBLE ABLETS FOR THE OHN ERRON ART N STI . M T J H I TUTE ia a li s i a a , Ind n po , Ind n .
x 1 12 . OUR ROUPS AT OOT OF OME is si a a i l 9 F G F D , W con n St te C p to , iso Mad n .
. nw A UE OF D EN 1 ( r T T N AT R RY a s . e e S SE O D , New rk , New Jer ey
IANA a oli a s Of ( 3g D (St tuette) Metrop t n Mu eum Art , New York , i C ty .
RS . is ORTRAIT OF M . . RAD LEY s s i in . P H C B , Mad on , W con
1 1 ARL HUR! EMORIAL i . 9 3. C SC M , New York C ty
EMORIAL TO RESID ENT APPAN Ann i i a . M P T , Arbor, M ch g n
u a EROI TATUE OF HOMAS E ERSON . o i s isso r i . p, . H C S T J FF , St L u , M u
ER I TATUE OF HOMAS E ERSON s ? c 1 14. O C FF C1 ( o, 9 H S T J , County Court Hou e ,
l la hi . C eve nd, O o
“ I TATUE OF LE! ANDER HAMILTON u r ( r ( a HERO C S A , Co nty Cou t
s l la i . Hou e, C eve nd, Oh o
TAIN FOR OHN . O KE ELLER R. an i ills FOUN J D R C F , J , Poc t co H ,
New York .
li i s a ON UMENT TO HOMAS OWRY i a s e . M T L , M nne po , M nn ot
T T F RESIDEN T N DREW . HITE a a . S A UE O P A D W , Ith c , New York
TAT F HOMAS E ERSON i si i ini a S UE O T J FF , Un ver ty of V rg ,
Charlottesville .
EM ORIAL i a . M . EM KASSON M , Ut c , New York
K T H FOR THE D EPEw OUN TAIN i a PL ASTALIN A S E C F , Ind n
oli s di a a. ap , In n
G FOR THE LA!A UN TAIN FI URE (Unfini shed) P FO , New York
City .
CONCISE TAB LE OF BIOGRAPHICAL DATA AND LEADIN G HONORS
6 . ir t i 186 r a na s ia . 7, Decembe B th V en , Au tr
in i 188 2 2 . Ar r i al a. 9, November v Amer c
1 1 0 . t i i 0 ar ria r . 9 , June 3 M ge a New York C ty to Ma e A
i : i in . il 2 2 Sch vill a i a is . ul 2 1 e , of C nc n t , Oh o Ch dren Fr nc , b J y , 90
i . . ar i a . r I 1 0 r r c r il8 1 0 M ett , b Octobe 4, 9 4; John F ede k , b Ap , 9 9 i 1 1 r il10 . t . 9 5, Ap Death a New York C ty
- ir P - i 18 1 0 1. ul r an a si i 99 9 D ector of Sc ptu e, Amer c n Expo t on,
Bufialo .
— ’ l . i ir r r s l . 2 . 190 4 D ecto of Scu ptu e, St Loui Wor d s Fa r
— i l - P 1 12 1 . ana a acific x si i 9 5 D rector of Scu pture, P m E po t on, is San Franc co .
- — 0 r d n t a i nal ul i ls 1 1 . 1 6 8. P wi e a 1 9 N t o Sc pture Soc ety ; o, 9 4 5
2— i 1 1 . i 19 5 Member of the Art Commssion of New York C ty .
l i P - i 1 0 1. l a r t s r an 9 Go d Med , F ne A Depa tment, Amer can
l ’ i . l s. 1 al air . 904 Go d Med , Wor d s F , St Lou
1 1 l al i l r . 9 4. Go d Med , Arch tectura League, New Yo k
CHAPTER I
THE WHEEL OF LIFE
KarlBitter— public ser vant : in that expression may be sum mari zed s v als a r s asi the thought of the e er pe ke who, on the occ on an s s si l a M nin 1 1 r i lla of open e on he d on ay eve g of 9 5, t ed to te company of assembled friends what they considered memorable in the life of the man Whom blind Chance had struck down in his ll l r i . s s s s lr l an d r l a al p me In tho e addre e , a ge y very prope y ro c a hi s w s a i h s l of c evement , the fact a recalled th t B tter ad been e ected out of the whole body Of Amer ican sculptors to take charge of the plastic decoration of the three nationalexpositions held in Amer ica in the period of hi s manhood ; it was recounted how in spir ingly he had ser ved the NationalSculptur e Society as it s president ; and fi all a e ia i e i was a hi s s r i i n y, ppr c t v ment on m de of e v ce to the c ty r i s i i r of New Yo k as a member of t Ar t Commss on . He e were types of activity which identified himwith the movement of ar t in the Uni ted States dur ing the last twenty years ; more than with i i ar t a i ifi m r i li . r the of Amer c , they dent ed hi w th Ame can fe St ange perhaps at first glance that Bitter should have come to stand for so c a was ha a ris i i s i an d mu h of wh t c r cte t c of th cont nent, yet not ill so strange after all. On that May evening Oswald Gar r ison V ard ofier ed an interest ing explanation of the profoun d Americanism i i : i of h s friend . He sa d Coming from abr oad w th fresh eyes t hat l s r i saw an d el i t a ooked beneath the u face, B tter f t th ngs h t were eil uli i i v ed to the m t tude born to Amer can sm an d Mr. Villar d drew the exultant conclusion that America must be fair indeed si she r i il li filli nce bound to her se v ce the ch d of another c me, ng hi s hear t with love for her aims and inspiri ng himwith the ver y ! s ir i n i p t a d majesty of her institut ons. ’ The Speaker s words uncover the problem wi th whi ch ever y biography of KarlBitter willhave to concer n itself fr om the out
set . his i a li s r a W an d s ir i T Amer c n pub c e v nt, between hom the p t r i a was an i i a x a a s di of Ame c there nt m te e ch nge of thought, en ng K A R L B I T T E R
i s sa s was son il. to an d fro of wh spered me ge , not a of the so Born in ia s - ars s a i his Austr , he pent twenty one ye , the mo t form t ve of
lif in hi s a ia la . Nor es t a is se e, D nub n home nd do h t d po of the
i in his a . h s s ul a r a h i for e gn factor c reer W en, a the re t of t gic c a n i s s i l an il r his a r if of c rcum tance , he found h mse f, ex e f om country, d t r in di as t hr 03 his on this Wes te n cont ent, he d not h ten to ow li li t r r r r r a a a . Austrian pe sona ty ke h eadb e co t On the cont a y, w i sum r ai s ha w his a s r s just as he as, w th the of t t nded do n from nce to an d with the specialtendencies an d preferences absor bed in the i i i ls i a l an d l at i art st c c rc e of V enn , proud y humb y the same t me, he lf r vi r hi s s hi s t . An s i s dedicated m e to the e ce of new coun y d, a h r in is fi eli his inh i a — r life was to p ove, th d ty to er t nce anothe for m s allfid liti fi li sel— i of the highe t of e es, the de ty to f ther e was noth ng t hat quarr eled with the genius of the community with which he
his r s . him as all r s t o merged fo tune For to , to othe who came i r r a r i at es . lar ess seek he out, free Ame c th ew w de the g A gen of Spir it that scor ns to chafier and bar gain has been her particular
M . glory among the nations . So r Villar d affir med in his memor ial r an d so s s s s s an r add ess, core of other on , the poet d dr eame s who l es a sai him i have known and oved her b t, h ve d before . An d s nce a ra i s n l it has been so for m ny gene t on , a d the and has waxed great i h s e a ar ma it s i i because t a be n gre t of he t, y tand by t s fa th unperturbed and steadfast to the end of time ! i a t o i man mi But because B tter c me Amer ca a grown , shaped a d s s his li hi ll i a es ill other influence , the tory of fe, w ch the fo ow ng p g w i ll s a t s s ar in for l . r i attempt to te , mu t t ke t t a eip and Eve yth ng ul r s a and ur r an d ever ybody we wo d unde t nd make o own, f om the gr ain of wheat that suppor ts our existence to the poet or ar t ist who i is a s ir i ls a s i t l str ives to g ve t hat ex tence p tua t mp, mu t be pat en y i i tr aced to the wonder of the r faint beginn ngs. The most amazing a a l i ill thin g, as we go b ck to the youth of K r B tter, w be found l l i s r ia es l i r to be how c ose y B tter, the young Au t n, r emb ed B tte , the T il is a r man an d our es mature Amer ican . he ch d f the of the , deep t r e a un ldi ar t is ill r impression, as we p oce d to t ke up the fo ng t, w p ove to be the in tegrity of being an d the oneness of pur pose exhibited from the ear liest r ecords of boyhood . 2 CHAPTER II
VIENNA
l i w in i i n a 6 186 . Kar B tter as born the c ty of V en on December , 7 His parents were uncommonly generous in the matter of names an d had himentered on the parish register as KarlTheodore Fr ancis. s s la mn a When, however, ome decade ter, the young a took ch rge of his s in s e r a i s ar s s r s own de t y, he ca t Th odore F nc overbo d a upe fluou li flummer y and was content to play hi s r Ole in fe simply as Karl. r s l e r i i l l an d i The pa ent be ong d to the t ad ng m dd e c ass , ne ther i n or r e i sum a i s an d l r ch poor, we e endow d w th the of h b t he d the ili r i i r ris i s i in fam a v ewpo nt cha acte t c of the burgher tock wh ch, r a r s ials s r e a st l r a eve y Europe n count y , oc tudent a ccu omed to ce eb te l in a a i . a a s a r ser as the b ckbone of the n t on K r , who c me econd nu y e ilr all s w s ear e i ar la e i row of thre ch d en, boy , a r d w th c efu tt nt on to the end that he might some day succeed to the mild but solid honor s of hi s forbear s by keeping shop like them or in case an in scrutable i him r i ll i Prov den ce endowed wi th the necessa y headp ece, by fo ow ng
l - a reputab e bread wi nnin g profession . ’ s r ai l l di - a l The boy mothe , a f thfu , p od ng home body , brought K r up in the Catholic church an d would not have been displeased if he
h r e his s r i s . But a i if she ad tu n d thought to the p e thood th t dea, r r i l r i i had s r l s ar lwas a eve se ous y ente t a ned t , ho t eg , for K bout thir teen year s old when he boldly announced one day that the i l chur ch was a sham an d that he had attended t for the ast time . r a s t is c ci s s i is a him hi s a r Pe h p h pre o ou kept c m c me to from f the , as his father was a Protestant an d car r ied a faint tinge of the lawless ’ spirit of adventur e into the staid bur gher ranks of the mother s il ail in er an d fam y, for the father h ed from Baden Southern G many ’ h i n i m mn s kit hi i ad come t o V e na w th a jou ey a on s back , a typ cal l Ger man Wander bur sch in search of a livelihood . A eaven of
had r l i r r an d S r red hi s li l the boy a natu a g ft of o at o y , pu by ve y 3 K A R L B I T T E R
i i a i in s a him l x i i part c p t on the event bout , oved to e erc se t on the il i l hi hi i s a fix s a . fam y c rc e, f ther ed ttent on on the law a was est i i di i But the f ther, too, d ned to meet w th sappo ntment . It must have been about the time when Karlrebelled so unexpect edly against the church that he casually ann ounced one evening to the gr oup seated under the glow of the din ing- room lamp t hat he was going to be an ar tist . An ar tist ! To the simple burgher i an a ti s is a man i an reas na l assi a i m nd r t w th un o b e p on for starv t on , an d si as far as a il s r a aila l had nce, the f m y record we e v b e, there never appear ed any such dubious member of the human race in ’ ’ i a s s li his e ther the f ther or the mother ne, par ents wr ung their hands an d wagged their tongues in vexed astoni shment over their ’ i t l i son s wayward fancy . Pat en y they tr ed to reason wi th hi s ll an d as as d i a ail r ad ll ll fo y, they re one w thout v , there g ua y fe upon i d s r s the gr ow ng an head t ong boy the hadow of the Black Sheep . While thi s question of futur e occupation was being thr eshed ’ in amil i l a ls s lin was i on an d unf r t out the f y c rc e, K r choo g go ng o u nat ely it s developments tended to confir m the doubts concer ning hi i him whi ch had begun to beset s parents . After attend n g r l olkssdmle a ar s gr amma schoo or V for few ye , the boy at about n w t G m i a e t e as a nasium sc l. the g of entered the y or h gh hoo Now, i G mnasi um r s was t i In the ma n feature of the y cou e La n , and t his a lin s i his s alal t ss ail ist i i s subject K r , p te of unu u er ne , f ed to d ngu h r all it a al r a was himself . Natu y bore out the p rent theo y th t there l s s n alli at his a screw oo e omewhere whe the boy, r ed home for x lai a aul la wi i s poor showin g, e p ned th t the f t y th h teacher who was so ugly that it hur t to look at him! What had facialdeformi ty to do with such solemn things as duty an d lessons ? demanded the outr aged parents; but they got no satisfaction fr om their per ver se fi i i s in i an d a i a i the r unbour eoi o spr ng, n t ct ve p thet c ch mp on of ve y g s i l faith t hat the good is also the beaut fu . For these an d similar tribulations of exi stence produced by s a at s l a ashi lack of ymp thy home, he pre ent y found, fter the f on
r i l na a i ls . of a boy a tist caly endowed by ture, mag ca olace Not far s was a s a r s from hi home there toney rd, where for hou together he used to watch the workmen produce the figures for the tombs and
4 A B I O G R A P H Y
shr ines of their Catholic neighbors. It was fascination enough l see i s u av all s s mere y to the ch p fly nder the he y m et , but to ob erve a saint or an angelslowly di sengage himself from the enveloping l l i s was assis at i a i a . da l tone to t a ver t b e m r c e One y, gu p ng down hi s ear s s li l s e if i l a an d i f , he tumb ng y a k d he m ght end a h nd, mme diately so pleased the master oi the yar d with hi s eagerness that
- he was good naturedly accepted as an irregular apprentice . Although the employmen t was for a time successfully concealed his ar s it was at las di ul as is a fr om p ent , t v ged , bound to h ppen so la i s s a a s an n all i i a oner or ter w th uch e c p de , d atur y prec p t ted
lss in * i t i fi sult None the e , the end a d s nct bene t re ed from the ’ ’ di s r l s in st a s esi cove y of the ad work the oney rd , for the father r d uum of common sense now came to the rescue an d he ackn owledged ’ ’ a l the uselessness of fur ther opposition to hi s son s bent . To K r s great relief he was freed from the necessity of continued painful gazing at the repulsive visage of his Latin teacher an d was taken mnasi m in mt a va beschcde out of the Gy u to be entered the K n g , the li i rials l a e r s. i s ass as s as mpe choo for pp d a t From th he p ed , oon i hi s a s r s l fin e s K unstakademi e. ye r pe m tted , to the choo of art , the 1882 188 — is fif From to 7 that , from the age of teen to the age of twenty— young Bitt er attended successively thes e two ar t schools an d probably exper ienced as keen a joy as has ever come to a lad l a t i s a s was at las e who, ong thw r ed by c rcum t nce , t fre to s s t i i l follow the trong e of hi s be ng . In sp te of the parenta di s a al i difi in it s x essi ain pprov wh ch, though mo ed e pr on, rem ed a all n w his a l m fund ment y unbroke , he now sa p th c ear before hi ix an d for s years attended his classes with unflaggin g devotion . It is on record that by no means allof his teachers were pleased
i i him i old- s i ifi e ther w th or w th his work . The fogey ort, dent ed
with the pseudo- classicaltradition of Canova an d Thor waldsen reprobated a tendency in himto disregard their solemn preachments an d to incline a favor able ear t o the natur alist mes sage just then i once more begn ning to make the round of Europe . But luckily the academy at Vienna was not wholly in the hands of the ili s i s and an a i l Ph t ne , here d there teacher w th a fresher out ook S K A R L B I T T E R made bold to encourage the independen t an d revolution ar y leanings il of his talented pup .
an ase a ea rs n i Vi i In y c , wh tever the t che thought a d sa d, the r le element among the student body gr eatly admi r ed the en ergetic and i a i a l i an d i i and r ansmi i ndef t g b e B tter he, rece v ng t tt ng stimulus r availa l s r was a u an i from eve y b e ou ce, center of tho ght d agitat on, l in a a also si i l not on y the c demy, but out de t s wals. For around the lass s ar e an d s i l i r r c room ro d w r ed the c ty , the me y an d vivacious a i al a s r n an d r c p t of the H p bu g mo archy , a pe son of the keen life i was li l l hunger of young B tter not ke y to et that fact pass imn ot iced. As it a i n a was s r i i nifi h ppened, V en ju t then unde go ng a s g cant l l tr ansfor mation of both a physica an d a mora sor t. The dawn of a er a h d it s a in sk an d ol i new a hung b nner the y, the d c ty by the a r si i s lf a l an d u in sle a rea D nube, ou ng t e fter ong n mb g e p , m de dy to throw ofi it s mediaevalshackles and to assume the ampler an d ri if l s r eli a ar cher, not a way the mo e d c te, g ment of the modern age.
a i - all hi had wi wi s l The nc ent town w , w ch t ce th tood the assaut of s was r az rass a was l ele r the Turk , ed ; the g y mo t ev d to a b oad i l ul r a s Ri n and si es r c rcu ar bo eva d, the f mou g; the t of g eat new li ildi s s as a lia r a s Ar t pub c bu ng , uch the P r ment, the Ope Hou e, the se r a and i all e s r v d an d Mu um, the Bu gthe ter, the C ty H , w re u eye s staked ofi along it s course . In r esponse to so weeping a call i li an d s l ur e an d ai t i architectur e came to v gorous fe, cu pt p n ng, not l hi i d i r l r sis in a r e a t o to be eft be nd, jo ne the e de ter conce t d ttempt effect a metr opolitan r en ovation of the city . Of cour se so ancient a town had an immr tan t body of ar tistic tr aditions which would ver y pr operly make themselves felt in deter mining the new move
ien ese ar c aili s e - r al ment. A V n b o co, h ng from ev nteenth centu y It y , i is r l si r e l ls s was s ill had, t t ue, ong nce g own fe b e, but none the e t r i l in si alas e t the most impo tant s ng e factor the phy c p c of the city . i x r i aimi r imar il at a nifi n Well su ted to an e p ess on ng p y m g ce ce , bar r i a na i o i s l l a the occo , togethe w th t ve G th c ty e much o der th n li i r i was r i e and w l ar is rl the Ita an mpo tat on , ev v d the ho e t t wo d summoned to par ticipate in the adaptati on of these two modes of expr ession to the peculiar pr oblems of a nineteenth- cen tur y
6 A B I O G R A P H Y
ar i s and in e i wi li l exubemn t s ir i of the ch tect , ke p ng th the ve y, p t i r ile esi s r i s of x si wh ch p eva d, they d gned a e e e ten ve decor ations wher e animated gr oups cr own ed lofty cornices or tumbled in head l s i For las i i on g ca cades down ag tated fronts. p t c en ter pr ses of
such scope there was needed the co- oper ative labor of many hands l i w working under responsib e d rection . Here then as a field for the pupils of the academy such as does not often open to t he r isin g
It was as an obscur e assistant in the decoration of the great str uctur es of the Ri ngthat young Bitter made hi s public debut as
- an ar ti s . c urs it was a r ti ser i as for t Of o e pp en ce v ce, , that matter , was the case with much of the plastic output in the halcyon days c a s er s as ns lr if r of su h f mou cent Athe and F o ence. But the p oduct
of i r nd his ell - ils w s al s las B tte a f ow pup a not way the t wor d in ar t ,
the working shoulder to shoulder with a host of eager - eyed young men had the inestimable advantage of cr eati ng an atmosphere of
i i i - zes t an d emulat on . In vis ting V en na in after years Bitter found much amusement in walki ng thr ough the newer sections an d poin ting with hi s cane to this figur e or that group as cor por a ddicti of the often more passionate than succes sfulpursui t of his youthful
But if we may dispen se wi th a det ailed consideration of the ’ a s ar is i r i i t he ien a e i i young m n t t c cont but on to V n of th e ght es , li r i i e t s i r l i ir s e a d fiec s ea ac . we mu t ng on two b ng of th y tiv ty F st, e r i sense a in a late ar mni s a a d co at ve , t k g ccount of the nt h o e mong r s d ar i ular l as ee s ul ur e an r r the a t an p t c y betw n c pt d a chitectu e,
t hat the ar t he followed exist ed les s for its own sake t han for the li i uni men f r it n l a di si t es v ng comm ty of , be o e whom u fo ded n er ted world of beauty and whom it ser ved per petually to remind of ideals lifting them above the cr amping squabbles of the shop and market
se lo ed r ea li n t r r ises becau , M p y on g t pub c e e p , he was more or less elle c r hi sel l wi r r t comp d to con e n m f, not on y th the pu pose of a , but 7
A B I O G R A P H Y
i a it as a r al a sent ment which, though he never dopted fo m w tchword,
- u a e his ei . ail so nded d ep down note of b ng He never f ed, therefore, to r espond royally whenever one or another of hi s early associates a ss a him visi u s a infr e c me acro the sea to p y a t of co rte y or, not r an d illand c i i l at his quent occurrence, poo broken , kno ked t m d y
l is romi si li or at las it s s Sudden y th p ng young fe, e t outer tructure,
had a heavy hand laid on it an d fellto ear th like a house of cards. Bitter was now twenty years old an d in accor dance with the law i i hi of the land was drafted into the ar my . His fr ends called w th m l s r li li ssi als s r all in to the co or we e ob ged , ke profe on tudent gene y s r ia an d r a s r a i a Au t Ge m ny , to e ve one ye r, but he, ow ng to the f ct that he had left the Gymnasi umtoo early to get the necessar y r ifi a a s i hi s s si al a was li s r ce t c te tte t ng profe on ch racter, ob ged to e ve was s s i si i i s i hi three year s. It a mon trou mpo t on, the nju t ce of w ch w i li r i i s i as recogn zed even by the pub c autho t e , w th no further
es l t a a lless shr S l r s. r r u t, however, h n he p ug of the hou de Unde the ir s a s s i a s i c cum t nce the up hot m ght h ve been fore een, for, g ven the i r es l an d s i i ar ti s it was i i a l. r o ute dedicated p r t of the t, nev t b e B tte served one year with the color s like allthe r est of his student Circle ; s in i l a av sa r ifi mor e he would not . That one year wa tse f he y c ce with it s perpetual dr illan d it s enfor ced estr angement from the r l s i . r a s in s his a tud o Th ee ye , he knew the depth of he rt, wou d
- ea hi s s i i . a i r ti d lif l in br k p r t F ced w th dest uc on, he di what e ov g illal s — h i n d youth w way do e res umed command of hi s dest ny a , r e i hi s l ia s hi ss nounc ng aleg nce, one ummer day made s way acro
the Austr ian border into Ger many . Year s before he had acqui r ed the habit of letting his impatient s a a a an d r i l l r r i thought ro m bro d, more pa t cu ar y towa d Ame ca, whenever the narrow cir cumstances of the burgher wor ld about him him i i i n i broke w th the r bt a d br dle . As to thousands of other a s ef r an d si r i a s eme as an sla Europe n youth , b o e nce, Ame c e d I nd of the Blest where happier condi tions pr evailed than those which cur ved men beneath the yoke in their ancient home . America the an d r amml ir i s e in hi s free unt e ed , the v g n country, e med to beckon r a s so t a l i l r him i had d e m hat ong ng wou d come ove wh ch, before he 9 K A R L B I T T E R l a in s l r li i his so lt a hi s r e eft the L t choo , d opped the be ef nto u h t futu
w s as r l . r i a c t in the New Wo d When, the efore, on that crit calday, i s r i s r s ba a i old w thout poken word to f end or pa ent , he de d eu to the ’
i li . r his c ty y ng under the shadow of St Stephen s towe , he knew
il - alas i l as ws his . alcraz go certa n y the p ot kno port But, h f ed by t he i m risis s r s agony of the m edi ate c , he tr ied to hi de hi pu po e from himself an d for some months wandered from town to town in
er a se i and fin i . li at las G m ny , ek n g often d ng work At Ber n t, where i was al li his s. s ti the ment fog fted , he got bear ng The que on now i . r i l r z a money A fo mer V ennese assoc ate, Rudo ph Schwa by n me, had received himin Berlin with open ar ms an d faithfufly shared hi s quar ters with him. Schwar z rose to the situation by empt ying ’ his r i his r i s . T t ilr s at i as pu se nto f end hand hen a the r a oad t on , ’ fin t i li i i s a alact of devo on, he s pped his s lver watch into B tter ’ i i s r ifi his essi i s pocket, for the fug t ve own had been sac ced to nec t e
“ long before he reached the Ger man capital. That silver watch
Bitter never afterwar d men tioned without emotion . A stuttered a s i a s a nd r ai ll t he hr e word, w ft h nd h ke, a the t n pu ed out of t ong d station bound for Br emen an d the vast Unkn own .
What thousands an d thousands of tr easur e- seeker s they have
i r s- l ti l r a a l es sels ur o carr ed to the t an At an c E do do, the f tefu v of E pe, slipping along smoothly under whi te sails or t earing thr ough the waves shaken with the r umble of gr eat en gines ! Owing to t he r si i i had s a a gene o ty of his fr end, B tter ju t enough money to p y for an d to provide for hi s fir st wants on his stood at one spot leaning on the r ailin g of t he ship an d staring out over the gray wastes of water whi ch r ocked an d climbed and Showed ir i e as if s all him a l l es la so la r i the wh te te th to w ow , one y , d o te u d ft s s ri n is r l . hi s ufi h upon a p ank Then , a e g abated, he set eyes eso
t l s sk . da i a sob a was lue y toward the we tern y And one y, w th th t
r si a i . m r 2 2 half a pr aye , he ghted the St tue of L berty On Nove be
188 t ri a soil. 9, he se foot on Ame c n
I O CHAPTER III
THELAND OF FREEDOM
A chance obser ver of the st ream of immigr ants coming down the “ ! gangplank of the Lahn could not have failed to be str uck fi r man in s i a a a by the gue of a young who, p te of he vy p ck , moved l i n ls i s d i li l ea lss s in a ong w th a e a t c tep an w th ve y, f r e eye took the w e ix in animated scen e upon the whar f . He as in xces s of s feet ei sln s uil i r i usl il a h ght, e der but trong of b d, w th a cu o y mob e f ce,
lik - wn fi d an a a r al s deep eyes e damped do res, an bund nce of da k, mo t
’ ir s an d si w s o a o a s a a i r as a h ute, ne y, they h wed w rkm n c p c ty to g p o lan d s i a am r a sld a me if e s sar at t o w ng h me , e ge h m r n ce y, but the sa im l sen si i fin r s i in t he si us li s me t e the ong, t ve ge cont nu g nuo ne of the palm conveyed the impr es sion that thei r owner was of a difier en t r ace from the ordinar y craftsman . He was dir ected to a r li r e r i r i i r a s so t of mi ta y sh d whe e, w th hund eds of other mm g nt r a i a is lla s an a t i l a a ai e hi s r d ggng m ce neou d p the c ugg ge, he w t d tu n les s la w s at inspection . After What seemed an end de y he a a a a sl le- a ofli cial avin a e ppro ched by ouchy, b u co ted who , h geng g d in a li l r s r snifliin a ar les s m in dir e i tt e cu o y g, threw c e thu b the ct on
i i had i i for ha . of the door. The mm gr ant been wa t n g t t Sign a n til seizi hi s r s i his s l an d J u y ng ough pack , he wung t to hou der stepped out into t he str eet . s i him n ri s r t i win s— a i alla Sun hne about a d b sk , po ve d typ c te r r n in autumn day. He made hi s way ac oss Batte y Par k a d a ’ moment was sucked into the r oar ing cur rent of New York s centr al
r . lin rl h li ri ar t e y He knew no sou the New Wo d, ad no ne to f en ds r a or fr iends of f iends. He did not even command word of the new
t a r all i his ear . t he lss n language h t f om s des beat upon None e , a elation r ose an d sur ged within himin gr eat waves an d could not be
ll . ar it t h l if t r e i ri s contr o ed In p t was e peop e, who, hey we ncu ou s r a had an mis a a l rie l l a t e of the t nger, un t k b y f nd y ook bout h m ;
I I K A R L B I T T E R in ar it was i uilin i ir ti r p t the h gh b d gs w th the majes c, p osper ous ai r s Of ll it w s ; but, mo t a , a the inner voice whisper ing that the black water s had r eceded and that a new day had dawned for him upon the ear th . i i hi s mti s d al s is a Preoccup ed w th e o on , he ha w ked ome d t nce up
a a - Bro dw y before he remember ed that he had a plan . A bunk mate
shi had i him a s s a ar i - s on the p g ven the ddre of cheap bo d ng hou e, s i r r i ometh ng East 17t h Str eet. Hu edly scr atched on a slip of wr apping- paper the 17 looked an d was r ead by himas With hi s heavy ki t weighed down les s by his few ar t icles of clothing ’ than by the tools of his sculptor s tr ade an d his pr ecious photo r a s an d s s had l al for s mils g ph ketchbook , he p ugged ong ome e , r l r appa ent y without dr awing nea er to hi s goal. At last with a sigh li r a s s an d s r il er sisti of re ef he e ched the numbered treet , tu d y p ng i in s r i s f r s . r p te of wea ness, got a a as Madi on Square The e the hopeles sness of his pedestr ian undertaking came over himand he ventur ed t o Show hi s soiled scrap of paper to a blue- coated guar di an t r afi c wi a s lar shi s alin hi i r l of the , who, th cho p unu u str be, p ompt y i solved the cr umpled hier oglyph. A few mnutes later the footsore tr aveler r ested in the smallcubicle of an ill- kept hostelr y an d ponder ed his next step . if s ra l was a l als At that moment, the mo t g tefu , he prob b y o the most humble inhabitant of the Wester n Hemi sphere . He was r r i li in his vi r e at eady, therefo e, to begn fe new en onm nt the bottom
l r r r i s r a s. a of the adde , an hones t wo ke w th two t ong h nd Th t, by
i s r s e r s a . so his unpretent ou standa d , seem d the prope t rt Con quently wit h the aid of the landlord he copied out of the city di r ec
li r i s a li s s r a l r ial ses. tory a st of deco at ve e t b hment , f nk y comme c hou Dur ing these pr epar ations the evening had descended an d he was i ll i oblged to postpone the pur sui t of hi s fortunes to the fo ow ng day.
i li l r a - lis i i a Locking himself up w th a tt e Ge m n Eng h d ct on ry , he spent the next few hour s memorizing a handy stock of English wor ds ur hi had a and phr ases . The happy sense of advent e w ch t ken possession of himwhen his foot fir st touched the pavements of r i s ills ir r e New York had died down du ng t he day, but t t d beneath i t he thr eshold of his consciousn ess like distant mus c . As he lay
I 2 A B I O G R A P H Y
sle si e the ths r eaki down to ep , the mu c mount d from dep , b ng over himin esi s less s r d as l a s r sl r t t ength, an , prompt a w y to t an ate ti i a i t i s lf s for i m emo on nto ct on, he se h m e thr ee object the m edi ate ur : l fin d a an s a a fut e he wou d job , hone t job no m tter wh t ; he would lear n English ; an d as a smallr etur n for the helping hand l him a ls s e l a i l he d out to , home e r fugee, he wou d prep re h mse f i la uti es citi z ns i n a a i self w thout de y for the d of e h p , y, ccount h m , a v r law i a r an d l als i wh te e the m ght be, t ue oy ubject of the Un ted a St tes from t hat hour . da ll s i The next y the same me ow unshine, the same fr esh w nds a happy augury of continued good luck . As he stepped buoyantly down the str eet he became aware that between himan d the cur ving
- sk t r was a se r . ien s old ear ma es y he e c et bond They were fr d , h th t , fi e i l fir s r ess an d i i c . a at hi con d nt nv n b e At the t dd w ch he knocked, somet hing of this personalr adi ance must have slipped in thr ough C ink a ead himf r d alr a r il r f the h h of , o he ha e dy been g ump y e used t he r en a n d a i i li se s when doo op ed new a vo ce, y e d ng to cond thought , l him in . in lis r n bade step Hav g no Eng h , he et his photog aphs a d s s f r - s r r ketchbooks peak o him. Then the shop bos cut Sho t furthe ar i i in l l gument by po nting to an angeldimly ndicated a ump of c ay . The angelwas to be somehow squeezed into a tympanum and had been tempor ar ily put to one side because no one in the ShOp was fi l l . wi l in his equa to the prob em S ft y toss g o coat, the newcomer began work an d at the end of t he day was told that he might come — again . What he saw about him the kind of wor k which was w r l — inf r him under ay, the numbe of men emp oyed o med that he had s u l a s r s fir m ar hi r al e r a r s t mb ed on pro pe ou of c tectu d co to . For l r r ti ll ri one week he abo ed ene ge ca y, wonde ng whether or no
l - t i he wou d be put on the pay r oll. No h ng had been said about n n d his r s i si i ir e mo ey, a unde tand ng of the tuat on, d ect d by hi s
i ’ i r a s r r . t r a six w th, pe h p w thout, ewa d When, he efore, fter days la r was li l ees a a s ri s n bo , he , ke the other emp oy , h nded my te ou e ve l i le an r e l. i t imidl ope, he was p ased d g at fu Open ng t y, he stood as a man s r for h e an d slo l o t uck dumb , e count d, then w y rec unted in or - lr was t a r i la s. a a der to m ke sue, forty e ght do Th t the r ate of 13 K A R L B I T T E R
s mista n th st a that t her e must be ome ke, a d had to have e tement r epeated twice t hat t he sumwas cor rect before his incr edulity
br oke down . i lwl hi s el e r i s s Walk ng s o y to hot , he mounted t h fou fl ght of tai rs r to his room and sat for a long time sta ing at t he blank wall. When i s l was lin in his a sil er wa i e he roused h m e f, he ho d g h nd the v tch g v n i t r li i r o himat the r ailway stat on a Be n . That n ght he w te two l r s r ien had s him his o r ne the ette , one to the f d who ped on j u y, t was th fir s second to hi s par en ts a Vienna. It e t time that he l had per mitted his thoughts to tr avelback over the At antic . The day he had landed in America and wander ed on foot up Br oadway he had imagined that he would wipe t he past entir ely fr om his mind s r i r l Th and begin life as though he were ju t bo n nto the wo d . e i 3 n d l r ofi B past had thr own hm0 a he wou d t h ow the past . ut i l i a e allis d our i wi was it poss b e ? L fe ft r one, an youth s th us r r sa r and r a as r e re t illwe die. The e we e c ed pe m nent, the we sul ies a t s e hi s earl a s n slight and ca a , t mong ho e wov n by y d y , a d t he sacr ed ones he could no more renounce than he could slough n li i his i s and isci li ofi hi s perso a ty. W th v gorou d p ned hands he had in the cour se of one shor t week made a place for himself in a
r r s t i sel and lo cr ushed to ea th, ose, tre ched t f, o ked about. In his two letter s he told with hones t pride the stor y of the forty- eight llar s an d a hi s a s a r ss sea dr a him do , re ched out h nd c o the to w to s hi s inali l r i and a oul what wa enab e ght wh t he c d not be without, ri and rien s r i n d i r l the memo es of home f d , p ec ous a nteg a elements
s r sse an d s al The letter add e d e ed, he stepped down to t he office
la lr . is lema r an d asked to see the nd o d Th gent n was a ne vous, his day an d was not given to r epose much confidence in human n a ess dis r s had tha er a r sli nature. In a cc of t u t he t v y fte noon pped
14 A B I O G R A P H Y took hi s head in both his hands as if to keep it from flyin g off his s ul r s n as i i s sum his ho de ; the , d h ng to the k tchen , he houted the to i was d . a man esi ims lf an t he w fe In word, the good b de h e , when s ra a i ai his ill r a a a z young t nger, h v ng p d b , tu ned w y , the ma ed on iface r an t he r an d O i it i B to doo , pen ng w de, bowed himself l doub e . in s r e s l r i lin s ff s Out the t e t the young cu pto , y e d g to the u u ed hi had r la hi s fir s e i lt hims lf contentment w ch ep ced t de p emot on, e e be dr awn along by the crowd . Occasionally he looked into a li in hi s a i a s ghted w dow, ttent on c ught by ome object of personal ador nment for whi ch in hi s sudden pr osperity he imagin ed he would a a use in ai was lase d i an i l h ve ; the m n , he p e d to r ft d ndu ge a sense llws i wi a a s t a s r a him of fe o h p th the hum n tom h t u ged round , for an i s a i a an d s swi l n t nt emerg ng out of the d rk a ft y vanishing again . These were his new coun trymen with whom he was going to associate ims l in i r a r ris uili a m i h e f the r g e t ente p e of b d ng up co mun ty, li i all s ec l la po t c y more free, more re p tfu of bor, and more devotedly tur ned towar d t he realizat ion of a high purpose than an y the sun had ever shone upon Presently he found himself at the north end of Madison Squar e i r l face to face w th the statue of Far agut . Not on y had he never s r it had i a it s a was an d had ob e ved before, but he no de who cre tor , k wn a n i ul a s . . he no , he wo d not h ve been y the w er He stood rooted Then slowly he walked ar ound the bronze admi r alfir mly planted on
in - i r as s r sea . i both feet, b e t g the t ong w nd The young fore gn er had s e is ali in ri a an d s not yet e n work of th qu ty Ame c , on the trength of a had s n was e r a i r x wh t he ee , not ncou ged to ndulge in g eat e pecta l tions. But by the unimpeachab e testimony of this monument the Republic was emerging from the pioneer stage an d was already a in lai mi in t he s li la a ar t W a it eng ged proc ng, ymbo c ngu ge of , h t thought of itself an d the world . Ar tistically mor e stirred than at an y time since hi s ar r ivalhe sat down on a par k ben ch whence he could see the figure stand out impr es sively against the massed glow
- of the ar c lights. hi ls hi s s and s l in The better to t nk , he c o ed eye , , udden y mount g r a r at his a l from nowhe e, longing je ked he rt . Wou d not someone I S
A B I O G R A P H Y
i a as ma i es l an a is as was a l a ss sse Amer c n , n f t y rt t he gent em n , po e d l lf i a spiritualsubstance to which he fe t himse ak n . Sitting in the darkened city square ringed r ound with a br ight l l s i s himan d e ectr ic g ow, he summoned the tud o cene before won
r l see a ni a l ac a ai . de ed whet her he wou d ever th t be gn , m n y f e g n It li r promised ght an d guidance as no face that he had ever met . Eve since ar r ivin g in America he had gloried in the independence of the l pioneer who alone an d unai ded faces the Unknown . The wor d was the prize of the strong an d resolute life was a cup to seize an d dr ink ! But tonight In the face of the in difieren t multitude gliding an d l s a hi s s ill by of the e oquent but uncomprehended t tue, trong w l him an d ll was a C il a ai had ebbed and eft weak he p ess. He h d g n, longing with allthe passion of a child for the hand and voice of a
friend . The next mor ning both the exaltation an d t he depr ession of ni a r a d an d i r isi s n li ass the ght before had ev po te , w th the ng u fe umed F s so i a iliar r a a as . or a h was t s f m , wo k d y pect a few d y t ere much to do at the shop that the young sculptor kept his thoughts glued l hi s i s i l aril s . ss so did to hi task None the e , often m nd tray nvo unt y toward the ar chitect t hat it was with an almost guilty shock that he saw t he door open one after noon an d admi t the object of his i s i musings into the studi o . The v sitor made tra ght for the young i nn s an d t i s c i his as a V e e e , af er a renewed n pe t on of work, ked for
As it was lsi - im man pr ivate inter view . near c o ng t e the young
took hat an d coat an d walked down the str eet beside hi s new- found i : l friend . In a kind of daze he heard the quest on How wou d he like to wor k for himself in his own studio Let himthink it over uil did t he x d s. n a a s for ne t few ay At a y r te, the f mou b der not i t r him set i s l misi in as did hes ta e to u ge to up for h m e f , pro ng, c e he so i r us him i i i r a i s a r a i , to nt t w th the nter or deco t on of g e t F fth Avenue mansion in proces s of er ection Although the older man in hi s effort to make himself under stood used only t he simd est li r i s l r his ea in r a e hi s Eng sh wo ds, t wa ong befo e m n g penet t d i l i his r ea t i man compan on Abrupt y, to h de g t emo on, the young wheeled about an d with a hur r ied adieu di sappear ed down the
street . 17 K A R L B I T T E R
l him s a lis in hi s fir s s i 9. s allan d r a Beho d now e t b hed t tud o, m ther fi ir i r l his i i . bohem an a a on the East S de of the c ty He e, eft to own
i s la an d l at r r s hi s r s a ro . dev ce , he p nned abored the o de of gene ou p t n a l as si hi s r ri al so as tha hi s fi He had tr ve ed f t nce a v , f t t con dence lik i ti d a a . at imm r s ti s was ac ve an bund nt But t , e eve y con c en ou
a i sati sfi d i als was Visi e av s. workm n w th un e de , he t d by he y doubt They rose like a dark cloud thr eatening to overwhelm himwhen he took in hand hi s fir st independent commission on a large scale . This was a panelwith numerous figur es for the ballroom of the mansion for whi ch he had alr eady done such minor par ts as moldings h an d cor nices. He worked at the des ign with even more than is l i n l s liz his a. usua energy , but cou d not omehow rea e de Whe the archi tect sent word that he would appear early the next mor ning i iz llni i s s s e him. sat a to n pect the ketch , a pan c e d He up ght and at last fellasleep over his drawing- board with the crushi n g consciousness that he had fai led . a a k c an d l ris hi s He was aw kened by no k , before he cou d e from ir in mn had him o ls cha , stepped the a who been to , the h me e s
t he i li ala l . a si at t he o str anger, b b c nge of mercy P u ng door, he t ok in i a s il : r hair slee - r i s the scene w th m e the c ummed , the p nged eye , the darkened room with the sunlight pouring thr ough the curtain
r to ra i - a an d i ar a r ist i cr acks. He tu ned the d w ng bo rd w th ch cte c l r s llr l x deli ber ation ooked ove the ketch of the ba oom pane . E cel l a a r i l ! fi ur in r t i la — he ent, but more th n t fle bo d One g e pa cu r put it — s him r n i i l a deter mined fin ger on truck as to tuous a d mposs b e . The next moment the young man had scaled a ladder an d from it s topmost r ung lightly an d graceqy assumed the position of the i i l l . a s s a a and a mi in sketch The mu ed v tor ughed oud , d tt g his l his s in r i r r r e s a a s t he l esi . e o , g nerou y g ve un t ted p e to who e d gn The pr ofound inn er relief pr oduced by the hear ty approvalof a sketch whi ch he had been convinced was a totalfailur e caused the reticence so far obser ved toward hi s patr on suddenly an d completely had r a himsi ir to break down . He t e ted nce the acquaintance as a kind of ear thly Providence to be approached with r everent feet t i hi and bowed head . Some h ng now moved mabruptly to speak and as es l in r a a i als s out, b t he cou d, broken, ung mm t c entence , he
18 A B I O G R A P H Y
r l - ld li i pou ed for th his ong pent emotion . The o man stened w th
lse a n i . r a l aki sea i a c o tte t on G ve y t ng a t, he po nted to nother at r l l il i w s hi s side . F om his fine y chise ed immob e face t a difficult r l s i i r to make out whether o no he was p ea ed w th h s admire . But the young man tr usted hi s instinct an d having conquered his fir st m r l hi s i i s a l e bar rassment f ank y unburdened sp r t . He poke bove a l ri r i o hi s r at i ar t hi s r l of Ame ca , t y ng to c nvey g tude tow d wonde fu Land of the Open Door t hat had r aised himfrom the abyss an d s e him i i win hi s tru t d w th work . Of that Amer ca he sa benefactor the embodi ed spokesman to whom he mi ght appr opriately pledge ’ in s li l hi s heart s devotion . And the ru h of hi s fee ngs he to d how h fir s i r l r ali l w on is t n ght on Wes te n soi , afte w k ng al the ay up ’ r a a it an i mi a s ki t had sl it e B o dw y w h m gr nt , he gone to eep w h th ’ iti His s ar i s at r s was c zen s vow on hi s lips. mo t dent w h p e ent to take the legalsteps neces sar y t o prepar e his absor ption into the i Un ted States. There was no mi sunder standing the pure passion of the dar k i i hi s si d es i i r ei n r . t i eyed an g t culat ng fo g e S tt ng a de, the arch t ect gently gave himt he desir ed infor mation . Then r eadin g the ’ longing in the young man s eyes an d exerci sing the authority “ nf him i l hi s ha . ar e co erred on by fa th, he he d out nd You ! “ ! l siml r t i s d shall us we come, he said p y ; f om h ay you be one of . No admission to Amer ican citizenship conducted befor e a cour t of lawwas ever car ried thr ough mor e r everently than this infor mal
s r a l s el r is his r . act . The young t nger a mo t f t the ch m on b ow i s i r all li d assi . wa n hi s Afte , fe ha been p ng k nd Here he own i r a e an d r was a lar e workshop wth mo e th n nough to do, he e g hearted counselor who not only led himby the hand t hr ough the f th rl l lis i l hi s hf l maze o e New Wo d , but a so tened pat ent y to yout u i r a e t he r t h da it confes s ons. When he tu ned to t k up wo k of e y was as if the air resounded with lar ge chords such as the harpist r strikes from hi s charmed instr ument . F om a boy he had always hear d thes e chords in moments of glad uplift. Today they signified his union with the great community where he had found a home .
19 CHAPTER IV
STRUGGLE AND SUCCESS IN THE NEW WORLD
’ r l i e s fir s s i was as ir e n r an d Ka B tt r t tud o on E t Th t e th St eet, the i w n . archi tect to whom he owed h s start as Richar d M . Hu t
In these swift- moving days when the gr eatest reputations pale i h al r i i it is s s l wt a m ng rap di ty , not ea y to be ju t to the eader of s d r i ar t ni r ye ter ay . Du ng the last qu er of the neteenth centu y Hunt w l r e e i fi r a r i s as undoubted y a p m nent gu e mong New York a ch tect . r s his r s si on la ri his Of cou e he owed p ofe a utho ty to work , to the i si a al his a i me s l an d s mpo ng c t ogue of ch eve nt , but the ove re pect whi ch he enjoyed in such ample measure thr oughout the city came him his a r a i s al ali i s hi s vi s a to from tt ct ve per on qu t e , gorou m nhood, his r fi an d his t i a se a n d g eat re nement, devo on to the c u of be uty a Hi s aini in a is in ri t he s o s the ar ts . tr ng P r the pe od of umptu u transformat ion of that capitalunder the thi r d Napoleon had given him l n i o ar essi a i ri an d a ea ng t w d expr ve decor t ve work de ved from,
in i i r a i i s t he naissa . in l keep ng w th, the t d t on of Re nce Accord g y nothing was more natur althan that t he fluid line an d lively gestur e ’ ’
i r s s l a hi s a . s s s of young B tte work hou d c tch f ncy Hunt tructure , was l a band all c r at i hi l when he eft free , c ed for de o on w ch he wou d wi sh to make abundant but whi ch he usually was obliged to reduce to a regr etfulmin imum owin g to the difli culty of gettin g work of ’ i r s rai i d r i in i t he right quality . B tte t n ng an p act ce V enna had tur ned himout t he ver y kind of craftsman the archi tect had looked l l i i hi s li had r a . s as all for thr oughout fe but on y re y found Enthu t c y , n d in s i ar s an d o r s wi leas t herefore, a , p te of ye h no , thout the t con a a t he r i i r isi descension, he held out h nd to g op ng fore gne , prom ng, is a r a him i if hi s pr oduct proved sat f cto y, to eng ge on decorat ve commissions almost indefinitely . As an ear nest he start ed hi m i w i on the interior of a gr eat house on F fth Avenue . It as an ar tist c a r all r a lan d i x i par tnership , though n tu y the g tefu ne per enced new comer was much less a par tner than a protégé.
20 A B I O G R A P H Y
The situation of American sculptur e at t he moment when Bitter t hus auspiciously began hi s career was an interesting one . If the sculpturalpr oduction Of the Uni ted States dur ing the first half of i r was li i l si t he i il ar an d the n neteenth centu y neg g b e , nce C v W more par ticularly since t he CentennialExposition of I 876 rapid an d
r a i in r ss had a . 18 0 . . . a g t fy g prog e been m de By 9 J ! A W rd , the n hi s l la fir st nat ive so fair ly to eman cipate m e f from foreign tute ge , had s hi s s s as hi s ilrimhi s a fi l an d done ome of be t work , uch P g , G r e d , hi s Gener alThomas; Augustus Sai nt- Gaudens was proudly sweep hi s ni an d in hi s in an d hi s i ln in gto ze th, Farragut New York L nco in Chicago had sounded a note of incalculable inspiration ; an d a l fli as r s l ani el es who e ght of young m te , ed by D Ch ter French , i M cMonni an d a s had s i evi Freder ck a es, Herbert Ad m , ju t g ven e lse r i i i i a s l d nce, or e we e on the po nt of g v ng ev dence , th t cu pture had emerged from the experimentalstage an d was ready to take
a r s as a u a i a ll it s r . the w te pro d , m jest c cr ft prope ed by own powe was al s as if s i i r ai i s a ls It mo t , k pp ng the unce t nt e of do e cence, ’ Amer ican sculpture had ar r ived at a single bound at man s estate . l lli But undoubted y thi s rapid evolution had its dr awbacks. Exce ng in i s a ar n s x l l r i it hero c t tu y , ay, almo t e c usive y conce ned w th , the native ar t showed the absence of many of the featur es whi ch at d it s li in i s . s tende more de berate gr owt h older countr e Thu , to li r difier en ce l r in s l u had nge on one on y , eve ywhere Europe cu pt re come into existence in close dependence on archi tecture an d for r a i s— an d r i a i s as it a s— had gene t on ve y product ve gener t on , h ppen s its l S a a i i i been content to erve e der ister . Even fter ch ev ng nde n den ce in eri a i ra l r pe the p od of the Renaissance, cons de b e g oup of r i archi tectu alsculptor s contin ued to cult ivate t he old int macy . Now this t r aditionalEur opean gr oup was as good as lacking in r i a it s a i r ma ar c i s Ame c , bsence be ng a source of reg et to ny h tect an d explai ning why a man with the progr am and taste of Hunt
often felt hi mself ser iously handicapped in his profession . No ’ wonder that the ar chitectur alquality in Bitter s work immediately ’ caught Hunt s eye an d suggested a line of endeavor along whi ch man hil s r i hi s a i win a l di st in c the young , w e e v ng p tron , m ght not b e
2 1 K A R L B I T T E R
As l l a it at hi s r l uck wou d h ve , t ve y juncture the who e country ’ joined Hunt in pushi ng Bitter s for tunes by engagin g in a nat ional r is i in its r t isti w ente pr e wh ch a c features as unique . The Republic had decided to hold a vast exposition in Chi cago in 1893 in order to celebrate the four- hun dr edth anniversar y of the di scover y of ica an d lans a os risi s i i Amer , the p , prep red by the m t enterp ng p r ts
ati all a co- O ati fi is of the n on, c ed for per ve e or t of the whole ar t t ’ l ha is r i a s ladi a i e s s ul s an d wor d, t t , of Ame c e ng rch t ct , c ptor ,
ai rs. As s as was ale i c r l n d p nte oon the project reve d, arch te tu a a a i s ul l d in s s decor t ve c pture, too much neg ecte the pa t, ro e to a s i udden prem um . Many of the older men did not scorn to recast i a is i e and l a a in m hi the r rt t c cre d end h nd the co mon work, but c efly t he a i ir an d s hi s younger men , m ny of them of fore gn b th becau e of t a amiliar i a fi l all r i f ct f w th the decor tive e d, heard the c of oppo tun ty an d s is r i il re ponded with alacrity . In the d t bution of bu din gs i a r a s im r i R ch rd M . Hunt owed to hi s g eat name mo t po tant comm s i s t e . on, the Administr ation Building a t h head of t he Court of Honor i m ia el s l i i r a d hi s a s a He m ed t y con u ted w th B tte , ccepte from h nd c ra i r a a s al r s alin i a an d in de o t ve prog m on c e ve y unu u Amer c , the next few years the two men worked out a monument destin ed to ’ a t ir li d far an d i hi a l s m ke he nke names hear d w de . The C c go Wor d Fair not only gave American decorative sculptur e the h pulse an d u d own d it als s lis moment m whi ch have laste to our ay, but o e tab hed the young Austr ian as one of t he pioneer s an d guides of t he move ment . But before proceeding far ther with the Columbian Exposition it is necessary to note t hat long before the plans for the Administr a ’ i uili i r s a had e e i t on B d ng were complete, B tte n me been proj ct d nto the ar t cir cles of New York in a ver y dramat ic way. John Jacob Astor had left on hi s death a bequest for thr ee bronze gates to adorn l s or at las s a s s the o de t, e t the mo t f mou , of New York churche , in Tr ini ty Chur ch on Lower Br oadway . The matter was put a i a r s l i sti a e i i ch rge of R ch rd Hunt, who e o ved to n tute comp t t on s open to the whole body of Amer ican sculpt ors. The ubject given l r out was the r epresentat ion in relief of the expu sion from pa adise . ti ti in a s a er i Seein g an announcement of the compe on new p p , B tter
2 2 A B I O G R A P H Y
es l a his a s i s Of s a s an d r o ved to t ke ch nce w th the re t the conte t nt , in a 18 1 t he i a n a a i M rch, 9 , comm ttee n ounced th t the g te front ng a a t he s i a r was a a t he on Bro dw y mo t mport nt of the th ee, w rded to d in i six e w young Viennese . He ha been Amer ca te n months an d as
s it r s i - r ar s old ! the younge t of the compet o , be ng but twenty th ee ye T s r a s ar li i s a s did as ma i a i e he e ther t t ng c rcum t nce not, y be m g n d , dimimsh s ir i s i r the t wh ch the new of the v cto y produced . The win ni ng paneltold the st ory of t he expulsion of Adam an d ar adi se an d was i s s a ial a s Eve from p , though w th very ub t nt ch nge , r l is t o i a i n . i l nco por ted the comp eted work Th , ow ng the c amorous ’ i si the l s ai was a d s in ntru on of Wor d F r, not re dy an wung place t illt hree years lat er (1894) but since the commission was never out ’ of Bitter s min d an d occupied himmor e or less thr oughout the ll i i e i ma as s t at is i . p r od , we y we con der th po nt It is cer tain that no br onze gate has been cast for a Christi an church in the last few centur ies without more or less conscious imi ’ tation of Ghiber ti s two master pieces adorning the Baptiste at m r a i at s Florence . It ay the efore be dmtted the out et that both w fi e in technique an d des ign Bitter as a ect ed by t h Italian master .
lss his i an d s l- ass r io s ciall in i None the e ndependence e f e t n, e pe y v ew
hi s ain x r a in ar . l r r ini of youth, rem e t ord y The scupto of the T ty gate is a defini te personali ty who never descends to mere slavish imi tation an d who shows surpr ising ver sat ili ty by succeedi ng in li o it was at t em ed himin is a delicate re ef w rk, though mby th g te for t he fir st t ime an d after an apprenticeship devot ed exclusively n alfi s a r i to decorative a d monument gure . Ch r acter istic deco at ve l at ai l has it als s s in s if in qua i ty the g e cert n y , but o how , ome not ll r s ai s a i an d l i eli and a of the pa t , p n t k ng ov ng mod ng, thereby fore shadows possibili ties whi ch were not fully realized by the ar tist till a much later tima r ini a a i all a lar in sis s The T ty g te, pr ct c y rect ngu shape, con t of ls two door s opening in the mi ddle . Each door bear s thr ee pane in low and high r elief measuring thr ee feet an d a half in width by i ls r a t wo feet an d a half in he ght . The pane a e framed in anim ted a s a s an d fi s li a in li in wre th of he d gure , de c te work not re ef but the at ma in s s s ris in round . Above the g e a ty p num tone how Ch t 23
A B I O G R A P H Y
' ir a y pedestals. But a more dehber at e inspection greatly reduced fir s il r an d s a s n d m the t bew de ment howed th t the e men a wo en, com posed oi an ephemer almaterialcalled staff had each one his proper la nd r i a ff a p ce a cont buted to the gener al rchi tecturale ect . The f ct is that Hunt with the aid of Bitter had succeeded in doing somethi ng w i had r aise a il two s i s of h ch he often dr eamed . He d bu ding of tor e r hi s c owned by a dome plain to austerity in archi tectur alline . But t line was so softened an d the sharp transition s from story to stor y so ifi a s s a a a ildi air l were mod ed by me n of t tu ry , th t the bu ng , f y s a ma s in s ul s i s w thed , one y ay, c pture, con t tut ed one of the mo t nifi an d x i hi s u ed rhythmi c elements of the whole E posit on . If t was a i s ul r it was als a ha as fi s decor t ve c ptu e, o more th n t t, the gure
l a al ir l i al. lss were not mere y orn ment , but d ect y funct on Doubt e it was thi s cir cumstance that dr ew the marked attention of pr ofes D sion alobser ver s. ecor ative sculpture was a thing that flouri shed r hr si i r s was ar chi eve ywhere t oughout the Expo t on g ound , but here tectur als ul r an d it ma ass a hi s r a c ptu e , y be erted th t t b nch of the glyptic ar t made nowhere a more convincing demon str ation of it s o in p wer than the Administr ation Building . ’ Of cour se this compr ehen sive Show of Bitter 3 ar t was to be judged only by the festivalstandards of an ephemer aloccasion . Deli cacy an d fini sh wer e sui ted neither to the place nor to the
a ri alan d er es . r a r s m te w e not pr ent But the g e t g oup , though func tionin r i aril as ar i als la t o l a g p m y ch tecture , were o p nned unfo d ’ i ifi own l al a s r s s s gn cance of their . They to d the t e of m n prog e from
sa a r i ili za i . xa l was i Un con v ge y to c v t on There, for e mp e, F re t r ll r as i a r r r s in ir ll an d o ed cont ted w th goup ep e ent g F e Contro ed ,
so r mai i l ts a Air n d a . on th ough the re n ng e emen of W ter, , a E rth s an d a ese ar i s si i s They howed thought f ncy, th v ou compo t on , but the thought an d fancy had their r oot in the exuber ance of youth r a a in r ed i a ils an d ther th n the o der reflect on of profound ph o ophy , i w l s hi s l as l las his r a a i a. B tter m e f who y p e ed when g oup , fter m k ng a s a s s as s r a r br ve how through ummer e on, were c p togethe
i r s - da s rillia i i w th the othe even y wonder of the b nt Wh te C ty , fir s ea r a i a ialis i a the t dr m ever d e mt by grubb ng , m ter t Ch c go, chiefly known till the days of the Fair — to quote the biting 2 5 K A R L B I T T E R
— apostr ophe of one of her own poets as hog- butcher for the world . From now on Bitter was in gr eat deman d by architects who r s ll i brought himallthe order s he could fill. In the yea fo ow ng the ’ World s Fair much of his t ime was occupied with work for the s ‘ i in Penn ylvania Railr oad Station in Philadelphia. A ped ment terra cotta over the main ent r ance attracted a gr eat dealof atten tion by r eason of the same originality of thought an d boldn ess of execution which had charact er ized the element groups at Chicago . It represented Fir e an d Water tamed an d harnessed to the service of Man — certain ly a theme eminently appropriate to a railway — station while an enor mous panelin the waiting- room t r eated of All h s Transpor tation in historicalper spective . egory ad not pro r a l i n r i a r a s ca s it s dida i r aliza pered g e t y Ame c , pe h p be u e ct c gene i s as i n an i a i r a i al l t on create something of dist te mp t ent, p ct c peop e ’ li rs l s and if s all r i s i s a a r a al ke ou e ve , the e ego e of B tter m de g e t de a s ir la it was i s l of t when they were p ced, due to the r heer nove ty r ather than to the pleased response of the nationalspir it . But even l did las l e a se if r l the nove ty not t ong, b c u , the t uth be to d, the i i r mi staka l allegor ies lacked ntr ins c worth . They we e un b y youth f l an r i a a las an d ess ar t u, expe ment r ther than t word , the progr of before long overtook them as did Bitter himself . As it s i a lss si r in is out of the que t on to n me, much e to con de ail r s s i in i fol det , the nume ou work turned out by B tter the per od lwin hi a ai r s r s l s i s l i o g the C c go F , we mu t content ou e ve w th e ect on , and proceeding on this plan we willgr oup together certai n com mi ssions executed for the winter residences and summer villas called for th in generous abundance by that er a of industr ialexpan sion . These commissions came to himthrough Hunt an d other archi tects attr act ed to his work and belonged decidedly to the realm of decora h a i e— an d had a e al tion . W at g ve them the r vogu they gr at de of vogue — was a certai n go manifested in a fluid silhouette an d a w a t i as l s ift impr essioni st execution . We my h nk of them youthfu
To give an idea of t he amount of this wor k for t he Penn sylvania station I shalllist the se ara e ec s : e ime in erra c a 0 ee in e a e in ai in - ro m 0 ee p t obj t p d nt t ott (5 f t l ngth) , p n l w t g o (3 f t in e er ic fi ur e u r i c ck t wo sma er e ime s t en a e s ce e r a in l ngth) , two h o g s s ppo t ng lo , ll p d nt , p n l l b t g P Li each one an event in t he history of an impor tant city alongthe enn sylvania nes .
26 A B I O G R A P H Y
in a sen s as ial s a i work, e even commerc work, on the under t nd ng r nar i ar r ie r that they were never me ce y , for B tter c d th ough even ls l r i it in li i this somewhat who e a e p oduct on, much of the ght ve n of l i i s r s a t i s . s pure enter tain ment, w th c upu ou r st c hone ty The be t i is s il r a t a li a a si of t hou ed by B tmore, the g e t Nor h C ro n m n on of t h i Of il. e n a s a G . W . Vanderb t Here , under e cour gng eye modern a as man xe in a di i an ass M ecen , the young e cuted, d t on to ortment i in s d oak a i s i t i of fr ezes tone an , number of th ng wh ch owed he r ver y considerable cfiect to a combination of inner vigor an d en vi
r onmen t ala s . t fi r a air a di s tmo phere Among hem gu e p of n ron , a ai r s i a s ali es an d di fount n g oup repre ent ng boy te ng ge e , two me
- Ar . aeval ar r i r sai s . ui s an d a c s s al w o nt , St Lo Jo n of The e ever pro ducti ons not only show the deli cacy of touch an d spirit which the artist was able to communicate whenever he considered that the r l a als e i i a id a p ob em dem nded them, but they o xh b t w e r nge of i r ati di s s s lli i an d lia ar tist c inspi on, for the an ron ugge t Ce n the Ita n two sain s ha a di s in ia al Renaissance, the French t ve t ct med ev touch , an d the goose- boy is a bit of delightfully animated naturalism t of a modern type . The young man who execu ed these several s lai l h hi s l was a i far n d work p n y ad not yet found m e f, but r ng ng a tr ying man y schools in a tireless search for his own indi vidual style . If Bitter welcomed these Biltmore commissions because they broadened his exper ience an d kept himfrom falling into a too exclu r a i r ut s iz i i lss a a i i sive deco t ve , he e ed w th noth ng e th n v d ty the i a him a r ial a li s fir st opportun ty th t came to to m ke t of pub c tatue. Let us r ecallin thi s conn ection that by t he somewhat nar row stand ar ds prevailing among us at that time public statues an d public l ’ statues alone wer e consider ed the tes t of a scu ptor s ability . As ad i r s i s r at it happened, a group of m re w hed to commemo e Pr ovost Pepper on his r etir ement from the headship of the Uni ver sity of Penn sylvania an d after some hes itat ion picked Bitter for the work 8 la mi ssi a is sla d har at it (1 96) E ted over the com on, the rt t ve d was i ifi ffi i e l s. it al a for s ver a season When done, the d gn ed o c , b re d sw in a l ls an a a i w headed an athed the mp e fo d of c dem c gown , as n i seen seated in a chair of state lost i medi tation . But his s not 2 7 K A R L B I T T E R
sel- r as eli i us e i i the f e ure of the r go m d tat on of the East . A char act er isti c son s of the We t, the provost res orts to reflection only in r es l l s a a i al T order the mo e r o ute y to re ume h b tu activity . he con r a e r fir maw l r i fist t ct d b ow, the j , the c enched ght , the posi tion of the e i i ca a fi s bumwi i an d f et, nd te th t the re of thought th n that, br eak in s ill gbound , they w presently lift the seated figure from the chair it s lll t i i to fu eng h w th a fulminat ng mes sage. Head an d hands ar e admir a l x essi an d if i r v s e see s a bit exc b y e pr ve, the r ne ou nergy m es si in a e a s l r ve mere p d gogue, we hou d emember that energy was the proper ty which Bitter had encountered on highway an d byway in Amer ica an d which appealed to himas the superlative American
r ai . s a s l si ifi t t The t tue thu has a doub e gn can ce . While it is a r t r ai r es in a efin i rs ali in a ara is i po t epr ent g d te pe on ty ch cter t c pose, it is als a s l it is the r i a o ymbo , for Ame c n of the last decade of the
i e r es - isi i n net enth centu y as seen by a fr h v oned for e gner . The bron ze pr ovost was the best thing Bitter had so far done ; one does not go far wr ong in calling it the apex of his achievemen t in the fir st or ex r i l pe mentalperiod of hi s deve opment . The many ar chitects to whom Bitter had become united in bonds of amity wer e not minded to let their collabor ator slip without pro es i i t t nto the ranks of the monumentalsculptors. R chard Hunt i e his fir s i r had i in 18 nd ed , t fr end an d protecto , d ed 95, but other
a i ts a i la l . s an d r an Fumess rch tec , more p rt cu r y George B Po t F k , had n i lati s i himal s as s as un who e tered nto re on w th mo t oon H t , i r cont nued to solicit his suppor t for their unde takings. Thi s pro longed popular ity with the building profession pr oduced gr adually n i assi i a organization of hi s work which is not w thout p ng nterest . We found Bitter established as early as 1890 in hi s first studio on
as i s a l . As r s E t Th r teenth Street . He di d not t y there ong the orde
in l - r an d a s as flowed , he needed more e bow oom , took hou e on E t
- Fifty thir d Street with a studi o on the gr oun d floor . But the neigh bor hood was is an d a i an d l for i no y unattr ct ve, , on the ookout qu et, he took in 1896 the decisive step of abandoning New York alto n i r s clifis at a gether i favor of a suburban s te on the Je ey Weeh wken . To an unsympathetic obser ver chancing upon thes e successive s di ma ha had s hi a a r as ec tu os they y ve omet ng of f cto y p t, but,
28 A B I O G R A P H Y
d in a s ir i i i ss ail i r ss viewe p t of fr endlne , they never f ed to mp e the visitor as an interes t ing type of efiecti ve organi zation applied to lsti r n i s iza i i e i s lwas r s p a c o ament . In th organ t on B tt r h m e f of cou e a as esi l and s r ia the hub , the center, for he cted d gner, mode er, upe il ssi s a s s r a i wi tendent, wh e a body of a t nt , who e numbe v r ed th the i s i s a l as s d la comm s on in hand, m de p aster c t , roughe out the c y fi r es an d e hi s esi s in ar l or a i si s i gu , xecuted d gn m b e gr n te, be de do ng i the hundred an d one things required in so act ve an establishment . ’ Bitter s youthfulan d regulated energy delighted in riding the hurly l i s li a eld bur ly oosed about him. He domnated the cene ke fi a l w it a r did his ar and m r sha , sa to th t eve ybody p t , kept the good ill r i at r s nl li i w of the a ch tects an d p on , not o y by never dec n ng from
i als li r i his i si ss- li h s standar ds, but o by de ve ng work w th bu ne ke pr ompt ness at the exact time it was contr acted for . a ls zes li s n d r i z s iss i The steady st r eam of m rb e , bron , re ef , a f e e u ng e ain us from those thr ee studi os is r emar kable . It ne d not det si s x r ssi i s a alea cunmer further, nce the mo t e p e ve p ece h ve r dy been is i n d alls i : he s s ated . But this much certa n a c for not ce t y tem la s ellas a an d atized production in a rge work hop , as w the r nge i r i i e a him l quant ty of wo k wh ch B tt r put out, m de , whether he wou d
a his lla es all a e r a i s l . T ir or no, wh t co e gu c ed d co t ve cu ptor hey ked himoft en wi th the excessive emphasi s they lai d on the qualifying sir a an d i e n l an d adjective, for he had no de e to be t gged p g o ho ed is a l ha his deprived of hi s freedom of movement . It prob b e t t specialenthusiasm for the u n was kindled by the Pepperk mon me t ha it si ifi 0 2 P d s thought t t gn ed 33139 299? s sf. asmasas But however clear he made it that he wi shed to keep a path open to l a r ai d a was at is i another deve opment, the f ct em ne th t he th t me
l a ati s l . a it ? what he was caled , decor ve cu ptor But wh t of The i r r a e l i ar isti an d as it decor ati ve idealwas ne the disg c fu nor n t c , , r ili er a a i r s Am i a a happened, a g eat bu d ng h v ng bu t upon er c , decor i all for i i rsal ma . a e t tive sculpture was in un ve de nd Th t, b ng c ed , should be done by artists r ather than by gr aves tone establishments less i a t r a i i admi tted of no dispute . None the the Amer c n d t on s l u a i c r an d looked askan ce at the dependence of cu pt re on rch te tu e, a certain group of hyper aesthet es in an d outside the studi os did not 29 K A R L B I T T E R
scr uple to visit alldecor ative sculpture wi th contempt on the mer e w i i i gr oun d that it as decorat ve . B tter m ght sigh over thi s narrow s s r a sl a his si ss an d a an s ha ne , but cou geou y went bout bu ne , th t me t t — il r i in — for many year s unt a. pe od to be noted due time he con a was if x lsi l at las imar il a r ducted wh t , never e c u ve y , e t pr y , wo k ati an d a i als r is shop for decor ve rch tectur culptu e . It therefore pr oper before pursuing his further development to show by a few examples how his skillan d understanding of this kind of work n d steadily grew a deepened .
On the front of the St . PaulBuilding on Lower Broadway will ee lssal ar a i s in s s i i be found thr co o c y t d tone repre ent ng the Wh te, r an d ala a es 18 6 ar e as al the Neg o, the M y r c ( 9 ) They not c u a a i al l s di s i ei features of the f c de, but ntegr e ement , the bo e w th th r heavily accented straining muscles being actually engaged in i d a upholding the great super mmse mass. Even better r e the four statues on the Fifth Avenue side of the Metropolitan Museum of i r ts 18 h s ai in ul Ar chit ec F ne A ( 99) T ey repre ent P nt g, Sc pture, an d si an d il si an d r l ar e at sa ture, Mu c , wh e mme powe fu , the me
i l li i ra . s fi ur s i e i i i s l t me fulof qu d g ce In the e g e B tt r, m tat ng no choo , an d ss i s l i s a an d dared to be modern , expre ed h m e f w th uch ch rm ’ case that we may fairly say he set a crown upon t en year s per sistent i ra i di isi his r applicat on to the deco t ve v on of a t . Because of it s conn ection wi th a stirr ing period of our national ’ histor y the sculptor s share in the Dewey Arch must be recorded mi t i s i . al a l a ila a th po nt Ad r Dewey, the hero of the b tt e of M n , c in i d s 18 was expected ba k the Un te State in the autumn of 99. In
i asi a r ai di n i a it in a a. s r order to gve the occ on ce t n g ty , to m ke f ct o t t HM h i s l of Roman p , the c ty of New York re o ved to honor the admi ral wi th an officialrecepti on ; and the NationalSculpture i mi ss s i a r s r mi ssi Soc ety, not to be re , reque ted the c ty f the for pe on to participate in the celebr ation wi th a tr iumphalar ch for which s i na ir r i s the member of the Soc ety were to do te the se v ce . The ofier was accepted an d Bitter was one of the sculptor s who volun i il teered for the work . Though t was hast y er ected of perishable l s ill rs a i h s materia s, New York t remembe th t monument, wh c tood ’ n i i s i on Fifth Avenue a d Mad son Square . And B tter contribut on 30 A B I O G R A P H Y to the handsome impr ovisation has not been en ti r ely forgotten It
sis a al r r i - in con ted of nav g oup rep esent ng a gun crew action . la d a ai s r i i ar it as s iri P ce g n t the ght p er of the ch , fl hed the p t of l i s i wi r batt e an d was n t nct th the ve y movement of life . r a i r a a la Howeve , wh t touched B tte more th n the pp use which greeted hi s battle gr oup was the occasion itself ; for he had partici pated with the leaders of hi s pr ofession in r aising a monument
w a i i xa l which as free g ft to the nat on . E ct y ten year s had passed since hi s arr ivalin America. In those ten year s he had achieved what by ordinar y human standar ds may be called a remarkable s s s s and si r ts i h uccess. But ucce the phy calcomfo attending t ad never extin gui shed the flame of idealist enthusiasm which America had li in hi s ar ar r i o its s s a r ise ghted he t when he ved up n hore , b u d
n w - i a d ay worn fugitive. For year s he had cher shed the thought a l r a hi s r a as an a t is n n d s in th t he wou d ep y debt, ep y r t ca a mu t, ar t ar t li war n d li i s and e a i w a , for , too , ke a po t c duc t on, as form a w i so i lser i . a e s eas ha r i of c v ce S y d by uch d , no wonder t t he de ved e m r r in l de p co fo t f om his shar e the Dewey Arch . For not on y had hi s fellow- sculptor s appointed himon e of their ofi cialr epr esen ta ti ves in an r a i a i als his i a i i ze unde t k ng of n t on cope , but Amer c n c t n s i d r i a i r s i afi r me . h p, by se v ce , dm tted of no fu ther que t on
31
A B I O G R A P H Y
i n i t r a an d i at r i n l beg n ng a the ent nce end ng the towe , wh ch u fo ded r la r s s an d O s x si i an d illust ated the p n, pu po e , bject of the E po t on, as a mi s ella s mass ili s an d x i i s as an not c neou of bu d ng e h b t , but inheren t revelation of the development an d var ious for ms of ener gy an d activity of the Wester n And Bitter himself has left a very detailed description of his ! Milu r l Ca his l hi it is lai ha . bm p an, from w ch p n t t Mr cor ect y ught
eani and ha ai a all at an ani si i . m ng t t he med, bove , org c compo t on in l l a s l rals h hi il ll Accord g y, he deve oped cu ptu c eme w ch wh e fu y x in i x si i was i e pressin g the underly g dea of the E po t on , ntended to
iz si n ifi tif l nd niz r a i . T exe real e a g cant, beau u , a har mo ed deco t on he
ar i s ar s co- r ati s l r s cation of the v ou p t he left to the ope ng cu pto , who were expected to assume fullres ponsibility for thei r respective con i r if i w di t r ibutions. t s as For, be unde tood, B tter the rector, the com let d r was o hi ls s a i s a p e wo k to be n t ng e th n the ev dence, pre d before r l l a i a the count y, of the eve of ch evement re ched by the brother l r t hood of scu ptors in Ame ica a the dawn of the twentieth century . ’ in s s in ir e r s si i e If, putt g our elve the d cto po t on, we now proce d to inquire what was the scheme worked out by the ar chit ects an d s i i r a i a di s r a ubm tted to B tter for deco t ve tre tment, we cove th t there wer e buildings in gr oups ar ound majestic cour ts an d along splendi d a es and a il s s t o is la r s r s thoroughf r , th t wh e ome erved d p y the e ou ce a r s as s an d i ral al rs l r a Man of N tu e, uch fore t m ne we th, othe ce eb ted in s his ral n d s ial l n d s ill s r o re pect of mo a oc deve opment, a t other p ’ i s i e i s Vir i has a cla med Man nven ti ve g n u , by tue of wh ch he ttacked r i s s r n h r i s the ch tore of Natu e a d reduced them to is se v ce . Thu r ai ar c i al r s and in r there were th ee m n h tectur g oup , o der to echo an d r eafi r m ani i in a i e i d the me ng nherent e ch of them, B tt r prov de as a r al ea r in a a ain wi t a ai cent f tu e e ch group fount , to , fount n of a r M n an s s s all a r N tu e, a fountain of a , d mo t umptuou of , Cou t of i li ili s l r a i r r ss i i Founta n s, ned by bu d ng ce eb t ng the p og e of nvent on an d di a es i l r a s r t ati a i r l de c ted r pect ve y to T n po on, M ch ne y , E ec t r ici an fi l s a a t d o n . a ai y, the c g ate e d E ch fount n comm nded ppro pr iat e sculpturalacces sor ies r anged about it s basin and was in
efiect a stor y- book with a lively appealto the imagin ati on of
mo r es s 1 1 11 Me rialadd , May 5, 9 5, p. . 33 K A R L B I T T E R
r e s - s whosoever stopped to turn it s pages. The th e tor y book to gether told in or der ed progr essi on the tale of how man has tr aveled t ilf ri l r a r i o t but t umphant y f om sav ge y to c vilizati on . ’ So much for Bitter s plan . Of cour se there were di sappoint s : li i d s c s si a r t ai missi s s ment the m te fund ne e t ted ce n o on , ome of ar is s r easo a r a l a i i a the bes t t t we e, for one r n or nothe , un b e to p rt c p te, an d severalof the par ticipants tur ned in discour agingly mediocre ai s s r a a s s a l work . Ag n t the e d wb ck were mu tered number of notab e
a s. a es la adv ntage When the g t were opened, there , p nted over the ' r s was a is la s al r e ri i alfi r es con t n b g ound , d p y of ever hund d o gn gu utod by a fair ly representative gr oup of sculpt or s an d afior din g an x lln i s a us r i a ar t an d a was e ce e t p cture of the t t of Ame c n , , wh t s all ca s s i i al s fi r s be t of be u e con t tut ng the re object ought, the gu e composed themselves into an art i stic decor ation attuned to the buildings an d rehear sing before the visitors the heroic dr ama of ’ r man s str uggle upon ea th . Access to the main grounds was by a Monumen talBr idge which was planned to typify the just pride of the Amer ican people in thei r na ala hi s and s as it a anfar tion c evement to ound, were, loud f e of isi i li a sa ds r i w welcome to the v t ng ho d y thou n . The B dge as domin ated by four imposing pier s crowned by mounted Standar d
Bearer s and these Standar d- Beat er s were the individualfeature in ls i i es e i s n ra l. T r i the ge e cheme wh ch B tter r erv d to h m e f he towe ng,
l in l dl uncon em i wildl r am s s a oft or y c of the r y ping teed , wer e not fin e e rati e an al s a si only a d co on, but convey d mo t unc nny impres on M ll di . ilbum l s a of contr o ed power . Accor ng to Mr no es judge than
Saint- Gaudens declar ed that the Standar d- Beat ers wer e the bes t ’ r i pr oduct of the sculptor s a t w thin the confines of the Exposition . M il a r . r ral la als M bu n , whom we h ve quoted on the gene p n , o afior ds a per sonalglimpse of the di r ector in action which deserves to be r eproduced because it helps us to r ealize some of the traits of char acter which gave Bitter such author ity among his fellow “ workers : Allthis was a gr eat un der taking and it occupied the r s li bes t part of t wo yea of his fe . Upon himdevolved the selection his lla r a s a i is a wi i fin i of co bo tor , duty wh ch he d ch rged th n te tact, 34 A B I O G R A P H Y
l ai r ss an a l an d a ia i abso ute f ne , d thorough know edge pprec t on of the w s s isi t he w s men selected . Then there a the uperv on of ork a it r e s r i enlar ls p oce ded , the upe ntendence of the gement of the mode , h an d the placingof the fini shed works in position . W en we remem ber a ha five s r i s th t there were more t n hundred of the e p oduct on ,
a i tas is a a . it had all the m gn tude of the k pp rent Moreover, to be i an d if i di i ala is is i li a lss done on t me, , the n v du rt t nc ned to be c re e ss s an d hs a s a of the pa age of week mont , wh t mu t h ve been the worry over an army of them ! I wi sh I had wor ds to convey our admi ration an d res pect for him Hi s d l al al d N O . devotion an oy ty never f tere emergency z daun ted him; no amount of labor staggered him. His ealan d ener gy an d courage never flagged an d he was a tower of strength ! s to u from beginning to end . A last quotation willshowhow this Buffalo citi zen supposed to i x in fi s li a l a s ir i be ch efly e pert gure , de c te y f thomed the p t of the “ ar tist : Bitter lived his life on a high plane an d the world was to l i hi ma seri la s a s . very ous p ce, a mo t to the degree of u ter ty But wi th those qualities t here was such sweetness of nature an d courtes y an d broad- mindedness that intercourse wi th himwas as deli ghtful i i ’ as t was elevat ng . ’ i of Bufialo x si i in M a 1 0 1 was a The open ng the E po t on y, 9 , brilliant cer emon y an d brought the dir ector of sculpture much i had li i d gener ous public recogn tion . He c mbed a he ght an now might take a well- eamed rest before girding his loins for a new under i l r r ia l a mr th tak ng . He cou d not mo e approp te y h ve a ked e tempo r ar en d ills r l lif a did w 0 y of the uph t ugg e of e th n he hen on June 3 , 1 0 1 ar r i a f a s ir i an d l s l a i his 9 , he m ed woman O p t out ook clo e y k n to la in t ni ar ia own . The event took p ce New York a the U t n Church r t n si l a is i l on Fou h Ave ue . The mp e ceremony over, the rt t y e ded t o a longin g inevitable in the light of hi s origin an d took hi s br ide
m s la l li . to Eur ope . During a long su mer pent rge y bicyc ng over the r ibbony roads of Fr ance an d wanderin g on foot among the giants Al s lai a le i uls i h i s an d i of the p , he d up p nt f tore of br g t memor e r ch im ession s st r ia a r i s ti m Into Au , where g m penalty for de er on
1 M mriala dr e a 1 1 12 . e M . o d ss , y 5, 9 5, p 35 K A R L B I T T E R
r o ar la in ai him did en r e m f m the my y w t for , he not v tu , but he et his amil an d r i ds si s r ia r and s succes d f y f en out de the Au t n bo der, thu ully i un a n r e as i s r s kn t up the h ppy, u fo gott n p t w th the pro pe ou present .
ken er i r had alr a s r as a a l si 1 , wh e B tte e dy ojou ned b che or nce 896. The home at Weehawken hencefor th constituted a tender and significant element in the web of his life . To the aver age indivi dual the piece of ear th he calls hi s own is likely to acquir e something of a sa r e ar a r an d i in all a rs our c d ch cte , B tter m tte of common des ti ny if l was r li . s s r ve y much ke other men None the le , the p ot of g ound at was an a i i - la it was r Weehawken b d ng p ce, mo e than that too . i li n i or si n i is It hung over the r ver ke a eyr e, , nce a eyr e a lonely u ai c ami s s let us sa a it was a la r mo nt n ro k d the now , y th t p tfo m lifted above the welter of New Yor k wi thout bein g detached from it n la f i t o s . In a y case the p t orm was h gh enough be wept by the fr ee winds of heaven an d t o gi ve the illusion of being near to the cour sin g sun and moon an d stars. ’ Bitter s piece of ground was about two hundr ed feet long an d la in x axis fr om sixty to eighty feet in depth . It y the e act of For ty r t t r lai l i s r i l a r ss r i r a li fou h S eet, p n y d ce n b e c o the ve as ne cutting wi i ales as a i . t he lifi New York nto two h v th kn fe At the foot of c s, i s r ln r an d s wh ch made a hee p u ge of two hund ed eventy feet, r olled n s ar li s r w at all s n the proud a d p k ng Hud on, c o ded hour of the day a d
i r as far as l see s r as isla the r ve , the eye cou d , t etched the v t nd of
ls - il wi ses ac r i s and s s r a rs and Manhattan, c o e bu t th hou , f to e , ky c pe magi cally hung wi th an ever- changing cur tain woven of mi st and li h i rse alisa s was a li it sun g t. To res de on the Je y p de de ght, but r li i s i was also a callto ea nest v ng . It con tantly rev ved the thought that the life of man has no meaning except in relation to the total ' eflor t of hi s fellows and t hat allwho dwellon earth ar e held in the close embr ace of God. For the sake of privacy Bitt er sur r ounded hi s place on the str eet wall an d la in his side with a high , , p nt g house on the norther n end s r il hi s si ess a rs nsis in of the inclo ue, he bu t up bu n qu rte , co t g of
s l and s at s . a l st udio, tab e, toned the outhern end Th t eft the 36 A B I O G R A P H Y considerable space between house an d studi o to be developed as a s di was la a d a a s s a garden . The tu o e bor te from f mou uburb n restaurant which had stood on thi s spot before he purchased it an d i s wi an scul al c ssi i s was fi t d wh ch , recon tructed th eye to ptur ne e t e , t e wi th ir on joists an d pulleys capable of handling even the heaviest lc s s l s i was as la as a u it b o k of tone . A though the tud o rge ch rch, ’ di d ex a s si ss s a at i r s di s sal r not h u t the bu ne p ce B tte po , for unde sa was a s all i a s di an d i si the me roof m pr v te tu o, on e ther de of the a s i r a s a low ir ula entr nce to the tud o f om the g rden tood , c c r tower i a in a a aila l s i as s si an assis w th room e ch v b e for tor ng c t , or hou ng t
an t or an a ses a s s a lis . , for y other of the m ny purpo of bu y e t b hment s a l hi a i s i at i a ls s all The t b e, w ch djo ned the tud o r ght ng e , u u y ’ ai an x ll r s i i r s r a cont ned e ce ent ho e or two , ev dence of B tte g e t i i l i r a s an al. His i att chment to th m ove of r d ng, b ought from the old was so r a a a s a e his a r i alin country , g e t th t for ye r ft r r v New York he took hi s exercise chiefly on hor seback an d at one time even
i d i - i as i l l a jo ne a r ding club wh ch p red , not on y to e eg nce, but to the ai s an fi u s ha te écolel Af r his a ia i d g t d g re of the u te m rr ge, ndee , the wild dashes through the Park an d over the country roads of West r r a all la s i r i s i i cheste g du y p ed nto memo e , but from t me to t me he stillrode untilhe found a more socialuse for his horse by hitching him r a an d li hi s wi an d la hi s C ilr to the un bout bow ng fe , ter, h d en l i l a s rs i over the g or ous bou evard th t crown the Je ey palsades. i s s ar an d t h s ar It rema n to peak of the g den e hou e . The g den was a gr een delight of box- hedges an d shr ubbery among winding
l- als an d was a e his ai s o grave w k dorn d by one of own fount n , the B y x It s ali s s s i r i l s . e t wi th the Sto en Gee e form m , ugg ng orde w thout w a a is i man al a s an l a d st iffness, as ch r cter t c of the who w y fr k y vowe i i w a str ong kinship with the e ghteenth century . B tter as fond of his garden an d loved to sit in it at evening gazin g over towar d New York whi ch at that magi c hour flushed like a great rose or glimmered r it is ulif ar d like a wallof pea l. But more than doubtf he ever c e
ar as di d s . hi s a i for the g den he for the hou e On t , nchored w th endless difi culties in the bedr ock half a hundr ed feet below the
s ee - l l had s his ls a t i wi s l a tr t eve , he be towed c o e t ent on th the re u t th t
r i a i mr e O ginal t B lt o . 37 K A R L B I T T E R
isi s r lase is lase i v tor , whether they we e p e d or d p e d w th what they lai i t l i saw c t a as u . , pro med e t n que ’ i c an d s r va s ar r s a a l x a a The k t hen e nt qu te , pp rent y e c v ted out of li in had i s l ar i an d the v g rock , w ndow on y tow d the r ver, were as
far as was si all ssi l i i - i removed phy c y po b e from the d n ng room wh ch , ir l n had ll a i s d ect y u der the roof, fu comm nd of the v ew . The hou e keeping difli culti es involved in this unusualsepar ation of inter
ar s lar l a s a - dependent p t were ge y overcome by me n of dumbwaiter .
ee i an d i i - r la li in - o ral Betw n k tchen d n ng oom y the v g ro m , the cent ea se i r i w s s di f ture of the hou to wh ch eve yth ng else a ubor nate. The whole east or r iver wallwas conver ted into a vast window and in the center stood or rather dominated a lar ge monument which so l scul ral w r l a v . am unded the form , ptu note the o ne o ed I refer ’ ring to a full- size plaster cast of Germai n Pilon s famous gr oup of i the a s . l as s a ls a rs ia Three Gr ce A though the bookc e , t b e , ch , p no , an d other appurtenances of modern living somewhat toned down the monumentalcharacter of the place to the levelof daily com for table xist it was as in s se solmn e ence, not e y the pre ence of tho e
ss s si i a vular r i li . ai a ain godde e to nk nto g f vo ty And g ety , cont ed r asse s e i gaiety which neve p d the bound of good bre d ng, became the
i - r char acteristic atmosphere of that liv ng oom . The t hree grave la i s it an d li i mas r a d his sil d es impo ed the v ng te dde ent approval. si mai s r ai i i i i At the de of the n t ucture cont n ng k tchen, d n ng
a d li i - r r s a s a i s r al s room, n v ng oom o e qu re tower w th eve bedroom
' difier en t l ls ea afior din a a ifi V i i on eve , ch g m gn cent ew e ther up or ai i a i ari us down the river . The qu nt comb n t on of v o elements in house an d studio gave the two buildings from whatever an gle they n s l wer e viewed a unusuallook . Seen from the hore be ow or fr om la r i r sil s ll the p tform of the ver fer y, they houetted them elves bo d y against the sky an d on a moonlit night star ted romantic memories a of castles seen along the Rhine or D nube . l 1 02 i t a son fill i e i t e satisfac In Ju y , 9 , the b r h of ed B tt r w h de p ia l a er an d il s nl e tion . The tr ng e of f th , mother, ch d udde y b came r xis i to himone of the fundamen talpatte ns of e tence . Be ng the man was was ain s or la r aliz all se he , he cert , ooner ter, to e e the new n s amil an d in his a a d movin g experience of f y home chosen r t . 38 CHAPTER VI
THE N EW CENTURY : N EW AIMS AND OLD RESPONSIBILITIES
’ That the n ewcen tur y would br ing a new period in Bitt er s work hi l i a i s. ir s as a was indi cated by m ny s gn F st, s ong erv ce a decor tive sculptor had been br ought to a fitting close at the Pan - American se l hi s ar r ia had i hima l Exposition ; cond y, m ge g ven new out ook n hima li s i s an d fi all and showered upo mu t tude of fre h nterest ; , n y n s im r a all was sli i i t ser a s a d mo t po t nt of , he pp ng n o the ener w ter i n ma an d is as r ar ti s s is of r pe ed nhood w hed , eve y t mu t w h, to crown the year s of exper imentation with hi s own inevitable an d individual
Those colleagues an d acquaintances who judged himon general v a a avali a ar isa an d an e i e idence t o be g y c er, deft t n, nerget c organ izer who had alr eady given the fullmeasure of his ability wer e in l for a consider able sur prise . Boon companion an d c ever workman
w s i e ha di d a r in ur r i - an - he a nd ed, but , w t not ppea the h ed touch d go of metr opolitan exist ence an d was therefore unguessed by allbut was also an is i his intimate associates , he art t w th an unslaked thir st ’ an d a philosophic view of man s destiny that was constantly enr iched i i by thought an d readin g an d was ser ous to the po nt of austerity . The fir st st ep on the new road open ing before himin the new niz i d centur y was t o r eor ga e his stud o . It ha been accommodated to the demands of a flourishing decorative establishment fai r ly flooded with order s and often enough presented the appear ance fi mor e of an indust rialbattle eld than of t he retr eat of an ar tist . On e after another the helper s wer e di smissed an d fur ther decor ative iall if ar ri sa r O r i order s, es pec y they c ed the un vo y dor of comme c al w l ism i sl re s . It as an s a a l r fin , r gorou y fu ed un pe k b e uxu y to d ' ims l a an ar s al i n hi s s a i s r s an d i n h e f , fter m y ye , one p c ou wo k hop, s iri alr li i i it was a all the p tu e ef wh ch he exper enced (for , bove , the spirit which was un bur dened) he often enthusiastically exclaimed that he would never again admi t as much as an apprentice to his privacy or let any hand but his own see his productions thr ough t o 39
A B I O G R A P H Y of the star s but gets no answer other than the one the poet Goethe “ ! hear d : Wi r heissen Euch hofien l ( We bid ye hope l ) r ialat li als The Hubbar d Memo Montpe er, Vermont, o concerned wi a r s ts a n l i so l th de th, rep e en ge t er mood , be ng much more ft y l An asi al i i has me odious than the Villard monument . occ on cr t c suggested that the sin gle dr aped figure of the Hubbard Memorial ’ was inspir ed by Sain t- Gaudens famous Sybil(oft en called Grief) at as i o a lse o ar is s illefiec W h ngt n , but c o c mp on of the two work w t ively di spelthe idea of their relationship The Sybilis a un ique ar t an d l s s at e a l sea work of ook out on the pect or, wh n fter ong rch c f s in o la r r ea i a a i i si he on ront her her wo d nd et t, w th tr gc nten ty ’ i s iri w n i s l ar n p ng a e a d fear . B tter ange of the Hubb d Memor ial i is l l s l sa kin . a r i fi u a an lan d not remote y of the me It y c g re, h f ge al i an un its li n l i h f b rd , no cing by rhythmic nes a d every fo d of t s i at is si l a r al lsi is w de robe that De h the mp e, n tu conc u on of ex tence n l so f a d visits mor ta s on the win gs of music . In ar as ther e was an
’ ! be found in t he lines of Br yant s Thanat opsis appropriately inscribed on the exedr a which for ms the background of the monument :
B an unfalteri n t r ust a roach th rave y g , pp y g , Like on e who wr aps the dr apery of his couch About himand lies down to l t dr ms p easan ea .
Stillan other memor ialof thi s period is in the CriminalCour t i and l a s s i l of New York C ty ce ebr te Rebecca Fo ter, w de y known an d ’ ’ as s l a s honored the Tomb Ange , bec u e of her humani ta rian ser vices among youthfultr ansgr essor s swept int o cour t from the i ts a l la in e i s c ty str ee . The m rb e p que m d um relief show a win ged angelwho has come from behind un awar es and is whisperin g the n message of hope a d char ity t o a boy fallen by the wayside . At the words the mask of evilwhich the boy has worn falls as by magic hi Th fir s from s face . e upturned eyes see for the t time and the hal- i li s lai a s rnl f open , nnocent p proc m th t the mouth, tubbo y l l h l c sed so as s a r c l . o ong, been un e ed by the wa m tou h of ove In a composition wholly idealistic the por tr ai t of the realRebecca
4! K A R L B I T T E R
s i ser lli - ise at t o ra is a a ri Fo ter n ted, meda on w , the p of the f me, j r ng r s s an a i i i r was note . It rep e ent unh ppy concess on wh ch B tte obliged to make in or der not to offend some of the too li teralfriends of the brave woman who certainly showed that she was anyt hing but liter alin her championship of the youthfulvictims of the r s o r i s di sorde of u c tie . That he had no objection to realistic por tr aiture wher ever it was r r r n in place is shown by the cha min g g oup of M s. C . R . Cr ane a d — in a - flush d lc ar l wa s as s Boy rose e b o k of m b e, by the y, uch come upon the market only now an d then— and by the eques tr ian statue l Th i ls a i hi fo of GeneralFranz Sige . e S ge t tue occup ed m r several year s an d only slowly an d after the most scr upulous attention to ever y detailof r ider an d hor se assumed the shape which met the ’ li s az asi ili in c 1 0 pub c g e on the occ on of the unve ng O tober, 9 7 It is written that ever y sculptor wor th his salt des i r es to do an s ria s a r he di es an d i r was ex i eque t n t tue befo e , B tte no cept on to the r in s i i s wi s i la r l l . a r a e ru e Ce t Ge m n oc et e , h ng to p ce befo e the p op e of their blood as an example to be emulated a compatr iot who had r ise i m a in the s r i i d a s s s r n to h gh co m nd e v ce of the Un te St te , pon o ed i l the plan of rai sing a monument to GeneralS ge . Unfor tunately the money collected was not sufi cien t for a memor ialsuch as Bitter si r at r a r s a is si hi con dered worthy, but he th n efu e comm on w ch stir red his energies to their depths an d had something of a publi c ar a r i his ti an d ha his assis an s for ch cter, he cont buted me t t of t t i was i l har a risti a l vin li l . m tt e or noth ng It h gh y c cte c th t, g once his mi s ff fi a iallss a ai made up nd to u er the n nc o , he never g n referred
to it . The statue in br onze is admir ably placed where One Hundr ed n i r si ri n d r its l a d Sixth Str eet meets R ve de D ve, a f om ofty pedes tal ifi r r i n i of granite tower s magn cently ove both D ve a d r ver . Ther e r e s s es ia s a ues in l r a ome famou equ tr n t t the wor d, but ve y, very
l hazar s in a es r ia s l r the count ess d the p th of the equ t n cu pto , the most per ilous perhaps lies in the fact that if he places hi s hor se l r l s s an a i al i li an d if s fair y on fou eg , he get n m w thout fe ; he set it prancing he is thr eatened with t he other horn of t he dilemma in the 42 A B I O G R A P H Y
r i i in i i i fo m of a restless compos t on precar ous equilibr um . B tter str addled the issue in an interesting way. He secured solidi ty by a i i s r s as a s si l se s h v ng h ho se tand , en b e hor re pect fulof the equine i s l ll r s at sa i i s il decenc es hou d , on a fou , but the me t me he n t led the necessar y life in to his animalby choosing that moment for r epr e sen t ati on when the gener alhas just reined in hi s steed after dashing up to see his men file by in review . The just completed exertion s ill i rs in v r an d s l a imal il t qu ve e e y nerve mu c e of the n , wh e the i r i t a as a ws r i an d al s in s ir r s r de , w th body ut bo t ng mo t erect the t up , ’ z s nfi t sin O ga es earne tly an d co dently a hi s pas g tmps. Brown s ’ Washington an d Saint- Gaudens GeneralSher man ar e equestr ian monuments of whi ch New York may wellbe proud ; it is certai n that t he city need not be ashamed of the horse an d rider whom Bitter wr ought an d who ar e one of the landmarks of it s finest
Long befor e the Sigelwas set in place an event had come an d ’ gone which re establi shed Bitter s connection with his decor ative i 1 . s w r i past . In the year 904 the ci ty of St Lou as approp ately Chosen as the sit e of a NationalExposition held to celebrate the centenary of the purchase from France of the vast ter r itor y of o i r r mas efi rson was L u siana . The event had occu ed when Tho J e Pr es ident of the United States an d Napoleon Bonaparte chi ef s s r s l al executive of Fr ance . As oon a the membe of the oc com mit t ee came to di scuss the Exposition plans t hey resolved t o callin was the a ri Bitter as their plastic exper t . So great utho ty won by himon the occasion of the Buffalo Fai r that he appeared immedi “ l t is an at l as l i l s a . o d e y the og ca head for cu pture St L u , though he was very loath again t o exchange hi s har d- won pr ivacy for the s an d l was s s a iall a li ofli ce du t tumu t of what ub t nt y pub c , he yielded to repeated solicitations an d once more resumed the responsi bili ties ir i i l hi lss a of d ector, wh ch nvo ved not ng e th n the tem porar y command of the whole ar my of sculptor s in America . o i as f The foremost consideration with himat St. L u s at Buf alo was that ar chi tectur e an d sculptur e must co- operate to produce a i i las i a i har monious composit on . At the same t me the p t c decor t on B o was fir m n i it s own . at ufial as a r to have a u ty of If , the re de 43 K A R L B I T T E R ma r e r is un i was ai lati l y em mbe , th ty obt ned by re ng the who e r i r aki s M n n d a r l deco at ve unde t ng to the concept a a N tu e, the p an o is as ul so of St. L u w to have allthe sc pture reflect me phase of the i Winning of the West . It is har dly neces sar y to go nto the details ’ i l s a similar i has alr of B tter s p an , a his procedure on occas on eady i c it i i t h . fl r been nar r ated Su e that the W nn ng of e West, inte preted in a r a ist i s i lu i i it s en r s e a b o d , h or c sen e , nc ded w th n g e ou mbr ce a is r s li t r is i nar i an d Sp n h conquistado e ke De So o , F ench m s o es x lr rs li oli an d L aSalle s ir i i s man e p o e ke J et , t r ng memor e of the Red an d his m t he i the ra al a i a r ar r a ene y, p oneer, g du cre t on of p oud y r e s a d r s u a hi of fou te n t tes, an , of cou e, the for t n te treaty by w ch the United States acquir ed t itle to the vast dominion of Loui siana w an d fr om which the Fair itself was named . To follo the sweeping a ai r an i sculptur ldisplay at the St . Loui s F with a seeing eye d m nd was to make an ennoblin g excur sion into one of the gr eates t chapter s r of American histo y . ’ Bitter s personalcontr ibution consisted of the decor ation of the r w g eat shaft commemor ating the Pur chase tr eaty . The shaft as crown ed by a Peace waving the olive branch to the nations of the r i wor ld . At the base t her e we e female figur es repr esent ng the
r h i s r ri . as r i t e r a i te to y Seated t de p ow of canoe, they were n t nct
with youth an d fairly shouted their love of enter prise an d dar ing . r a si l ila s mm e is r i i i s Afte ng e jub nt u er of x tence, the two ver de t e
i a an d s a li l r r - li together w th the Pe ce h ft were, ke althe othe sho t ved rs ai i in l s e s s im . wonde of the F r, w pt nto the du tb of T e On y the tablet which appear ed upon the face of the shaft escaped t hat fate
vi t ma nfi l a fir its i l r i . by r ue, we y co dent y f m, of adm rab e pe t nency r r s e si i the isia a r r act a It ep e nted the gn ng of Lou n T eaty, the ve y , si i r e fi r s Of i i s and r compo t on of th e gu e whom two, L v ng tone Mon oe, r Am i a and ois ls s ar b a hma . we e er c n , one, M , Frenc n At the c o e of
osi i hi s l was r i . o is n d the Exp t on t p aque orde ed for the c ty of St L u a , as in z ma — r i a efier son c t bron e, y now be seen togethe w th J of a — in ff r s ial uilin i in whom more non the Je e on Memor B d g wh ch , the ar s ll i ai missi rs r ai r ye fo ow ng the F r, the com one e ected on the F gr ounds as a perpetualmemento of the peacefulconcourse of the 44 A B I O G R A P H Y nations of the wor ld in the pr osper ous city named for the French
The permanent br onze tablet was modeled aft er the original in st aflbut r epres ents an impr ovement in at least a scor e of deli cat e il alfi ur s is i i s al deta s. The centr g e of the cene L v ng tone who one, i i as as l h as r ecen t nves tigati on proves, w th good no he p from i s e s li r an d i alis s nsi l colleague Monro , upp ed the ene gy de m re po b e for this greatest of American diplomatic victor ies He is seated n an s is l i i se i li a d with folded h d ook ng nto the future , e ng , ke the isi r was a s lts is ia i pat rioti c v ona y he , the h ppy re u of th negot t on for difi indifi r n i l. himin dan ed e e s s the Amer can peop e Behind ce, tand r nd r himin r a less act si i in Mon oe, a befo e , the b e th of gn ng the name
an a ia l Mar bois l - i i of Fr ce, the m b e , ong t me fr end of the young
- l fi r is riki l i di i tr an s Atlantic republic . A though each gu e st ng y n v d ualized all a in a r ain ei t e - cm , they h ve common ce t gh enth tury elegance an d ar e bound together into a compact an d dr amatic i i osi i . T tails r ac ts a ni s comp t on he de cont bute e h h rmo ou note, par ticular ly the many- br anched candelabr umon the table and the
- ar i old s l l r i at la . is ch m ng, ty e ette ng the top of the p que Th r epr oduces the noble an d pr ophetic stat ement telling of ages of happiness for innumer able gener ations of human cr eatures with which Livin gstone gr eeted the deli ver y of the sign ed an d per fected t inst mmen t in o his hands.
An inciden t of the St . Loui s Fair des erves men ti on as illustr ating ’ Bitter s ability to handle allclasses an d manner s of men and to l a en r ris a r i l ki ho d them to common te p e, not by utoc at ca ly brea ng ir wills in m r ati wa r i n t the , but, the de oc c y, by b ngi g hem with i a t o r a i r r i pat ent rgument the pe ception of h ghe pu pose . B tter had as i a a si l l difi n t a g ft from n ture mp e e oquence, very er e fr om the trained declamation of the schools because mer ely a naive rin i a fill i outpou g of the honest conv ctions th t ed h s being . At the
hi s a di es s - s out set u enc , u ually the dinner gue ts of t he var ious s ci ti es i l r ias i s him o e to wh ch he be onged, we e often b ed aga n t by a a he s li s wi a i a i the f ct th t poke Eng h th fore gn ccent, but the b as; a r in r l i i al a s l swi l cco d g to ove whe m ng ev dence, w y me ted ft y before
r r en his s. hi s man lis rs the hot to t of word T , who, the tene seemed 45 K A R L B I T T E R
l s i s di r a r s i to fee , poke w thout tu ed g ce, epre ented no petty v ew or
s lfis i es a aus a lai all. e h nter t, but c e th t c med them t ri r isis w i At St . Louis i happened that a se ous c as prec pitated only a few weeks befor e the day set for the opening of the Fair by ’ the Plaster er s Union threatening a str ike if any but their own l an r members were emp oyed in placing d mendin g the statua y . ’ The pr oceeding wi th regar d to Bitter s di vision of the work was as ll s: ls co- r a i s l r s s in fo ow The mode of the ope t ng cu pto , ca t las ass l b i r t in a railr a p ter, were emb ed y the d ec or former o d round us in rs an d r r lar an d ho e Hoboken , New Je ey, we e the e en ged completed in stafi the usualmater ialfor exposition purposes. As fi u s and i l for s i many of the g re were too large unw e dy h pment, they
had in s i s i s i s t ir ar r i alin . to be done ect on , wh ch ect on , on he v St o i s e a ll fi t an d s r l sl L u , ne ded to be c refu y tted ogether c upu ou y ’ r is last r s i s repaired when inju ed . Her e where the P ere Un on tepped l its ali l a in . It declar ed emphatica ly through w k ng de eg tes that n w in i i its r i r . The as the mend g a d jo n ng wer e pa t cula work fact , a r was so i ol an d li a a nl however, th t the wo k nv ved de c te th t o y ai ar is s ul it an d i t main ain i hi s si i as tr ned t t co d do , B t er, t ng po t on sl s i d ir s s to a hi s fi u s vigorou y a the uni on bosses d the , refu ed h ve g re r lin led ill bot ched by inexper t fin gers. Shrillw ang g nowhere t Bitter had the happy thought of summoning t he whole body of lai plas terer s to a hallfor a conference . There he d the case before l ar is i ali in hi s s l fi a . them u ua , ery m nner He unfo ded the t t c qu ty n d a i nalsi ifi a t he siti an d t he sessi a n t o gn c nce of Expo on, when on clse t s i lin ir s lfis clai s a a o d the men hemselve , y e d g the e h m , b ndoned their leader s an d voted the concession t hat made possible the ’ completion of the work accordin g to Bitter s ideas. CHAPTER VII
PUBLIC SERVICES AN D PUBLIC COMMISSIONS
si it s r a i in 18 i a a had Ever nce c e t on 93 B tter, ch rter member, r been g eatly inter ested in the Nati onal Sculpture Society . He ed as all u r s di d a a a an a ien hop , the fo nde , th t, fter the m nner of nc t il i l s e a ri i s gu d, the Soc ety wou d erve to prot ct the m te al nterest of rs i his ll s als n r ai the membe , but together w th fe ow he o e te t ned the ’ hope that the Society s collective cfior ts would prove far more effective than the scatter ed acti on of in di viduals in spreading the i ls sc r n Hi i si a l i . s x de of u ptu e through the commu ty g ft of e pres on , as llas hi s a in s n d ili admi is r a i w s we re d e s a ab ty to do n t t ve ork, oon s d him 18 s w s . a s e a pu he to the front In 99, we have e n, he among those intr ust ed by the Society with the decorati on of the Dewey r in 1 00 was a i i ai s A ch ; 9 he , on the recommend t on of the Soc ety , r ed t o the post of di rector of sculpture at the Pan - American Exposition ; and beginn ing with the year 1903he was t e- elected almost annually ’ i s w nl al to the Soc ety governi ng board or council. It as o y natur a a a i s hi s a ci l shi th t , fter h v ng thu proved c pa ty for eader p , he should have been elected to the presidency of the Society in 1906 l/ in s ssi n i l t e had i s l s ucce on to Da e Ches r French , who h m e f ucceeded r fir s i . . . a es an d a i a J ! A W d , t pr dent honored de n of the Amer c n i l s w e der of the chisel. The presidency was held by Bitter for two year s (1906— 8) an d s a a al e s s mu t h ve won the pprov of the m mber , for, after a lap e of i in 1 1 was a ai ais i es x i fli ce an d t me, 9 4, he g n r ed to the h gh t e ecut ve o it h held at i s death . The words an d actions of Bitter as r epresentative of the sculptors of America uni for mly showed that he was concerned less wi t h the privileges of the plastic profession than with its duties towar d the
li hi it lea s r . r l in hi s pub c upon w ch ned for uppo t T ue, he folowed t a tr adi tion of the Society alr eady happily establi shed under hi s fi w r i predecessors in of ce . But he as aware that good t adi t ons were i not enough : the fight aga nst egotism an d decay must be un ceasing . 47
A B I O G R A P H Y a ain s s s or l li r s r i g t mon trou feeb e pub c p oject , they were not pe m tted to exercise a constr uctive leader ship in the spirit of the new ar t of
- it t town planning . B ter attended to hi s duties on the Ar Com mission with an assiduity an d a devotion that won the respect of
ll . M a hi s ass ia s. cAn n r si oc te Mr George e y, fo mer pre dent of the a l an d a ili a t l ass i a i it Bo rd of A dermen f m r hrough ong oc t on . w h ’ i s u i i ala i i has a a s a al B tter m n c p ct v ty , m de generou vow of the ’ i s it s i i a l se a h s w c ty debt to ndefat g b e rv nt, but he as also ho n by ’ quotations from Bitter s letters to himthat the art ist never ceased
la a s a a i l an d a - l i to ment the b ence of bro d , flex b e, forw rd ook ng r r a sti s as i a l i p og m de ned to erve gu de for deve opment of the c ty , ll ’ t h frankly modern an d yet aesthetica y attr active . Though e
a aza hi t - an d- sa ifi e- l r a i h ph rd, miss method , nct ed by ag ong p ct ce, was a a i t si ass l so i not b ndoned e ther hen or nce, ured y me t me, s l it is ill r i though mo t probab y when too late , New York w reg et ts failur e to exer cise a proper foresight wit h r egard to the art istic co- r i a i its s ar li uili s s a s o d n t on of qu es, pub c b d ng , monument , p rk , i n i ’ s a d s s s r a s . br dge , y tem of t n por tat on
was la a t he a a - lan i Even though New York gg rd , f ct th t town p n ng, t he new science an d ar t r esulting from the inordinate industr ial t i i s a r a i a a s in r i a fill him i grow h of c t e , m de p d dv nce Ame c ed w th i i asi nal s hi i a l rejo c ng . Occ o jour ney had brought m nto favor b e a ai ta i s i ies i l s an d cqu n nce w th ome of the c t of the M dd e We t, he am t ink a a s lli wi l al i n d nu c e to h th t mong them, we ng th oc pr de a burdened wi th the indi viduali st tradi tions oi the older cities of the
- as la in i ts wn . co t, town p nn g would first come nto i o He therefore
M mr ia a s a 1 1 e ddr es M . o l , y 5, 9 5
r ma f A i r o An exce ro e er o t he assis an secre ar t he rt ommiss on M . n pt f l tt t t t y of C , J h ’ ui c Adams ma ser e com et e t he record Bit er s ac ivi in ofi ce: D ur in the ! n y , y v to pl of t t ty g ’ r i r ee thr ee year s of M . B tte s ter mt he Ar t Commission passed upon six hundr ed and thir t n
r t e ma r s i c an v and tour . T is f c r mea sepa a tte , wh h was a er age of t wo hundr ed a year h o ouse nt
a rea dea rk for t he mem th mmissio and es e ia for M r . Bi er g t l of wo bers of e Co n p c lly tt , who w as usually chair man of t he committees t o examine the models and locations of sculpture. r i v r i memer of the mmissi and er r me his M . B tter was a e y conscient ous b Co on p fo d uies ms ai He a e a rea ea of ime to the work and I ave k w himt o d t o t f thfully. g v g t d l t h no n go out with a committee the entir e day visitingproposed locations of fount ains and monu me s His r ea Vie i e i ence and s u d u me er e r ea a ue t he nt b dth of w, nt ll g , o n j dg nt w of g t v l to Commission an d to t he ci ty in the deter mination of many impor tant quest ions that arose
49 K A R L B I T T E R
r wi sa is a i issi s all g eeted th t f ct on the comm on , of them more or lss a li na i s l a him s e of pub c ture, wh ch pre ent y c me to from uch
e s as a is l la . o is and i a lis. c nter M d on, C eve nd , St L u , M nne po Of s mi ssi s s all s l S a r the e com on we h pre ent y pe k , but the me e monu s si as s ar t t ll lls r hi s ment , con dered work of , do not e the fu to y of efforts . By means of his time generously given to Ofli cialcom mit t ees ri at r s li - s ir i d i iz s s a i or p v e g oup of pub c p te c t en , he pre d , w th an l a ail fir e hi s lis rs an l e oquence th t never f ed to tene , the new ev ge i a i l clai in it s alla i s s and of the C ty Be ut fu , pro m g the cau e of rt t ,
r tai l las his i ia r s l r s. ce n y not e t of mmed te breth en, the cu pto Lar gely because it was a publi c monument to be incorpor ated in s an d lif r w s r the pre ent future e of New York , he th e uch ene gy into the commi ssion that came to himin 1908 to r ai se a memor ial ar l z s ldi s ates a i a all ea lss an d to C Schur , o er, t m n , wr ter, but , bove , f r e
i i iz . i s as o i l als a liar upr ght c t en In th c e , h wever, B tter fe t o pecu i a i z li s lf ha s ls i his s . i i d pr v te t mu u to g ve be t Schur , ke B tter h m e , fled from unhappy condi tions in the Old World and had found in
A r i a nl si al ll- i li i an d s ial me c , not o y phy c we be ng , but a po t cal oc situation that appealed to hi s manhood an d set hi s heart an d mind
ex z i astir . The plan an d ecuti on of the Schur monument occup ed himfor five years and probably there was not a detailwhi ch in his usualtireless sear ch for the most expressive contour he di d not subject to half a score of changes. l d s r l la d at The comp ete monument, upe b y p ce the end of One u d d an d ix r l i M omin side ar H n re S teenth Street ove ook ng g P k , s s i iz - s a s a in a a al old a e r sse how the c t en t te m n dv nced but h e g , d e d in the simple manner in which hi s neighbor s met himof an afternoon n x i His l l in whe he sallied forth for e erc se. ong overcoat fals folds his an d i s a si a h t in a Vi to feet he p u ng for moment, a h nd, to ew the
x prospect before him. The note of e treme republican simpli city soun ded by the postur e an d apparelis repeated by the expressive a it s t o an ahn ost a s v r i f ce, where , however, mount Rom n e e ty , proclai ming more eloquently than words that patr iotism is less a i ts ha i matter of r gh t n of the har dest k nd of ser vice . z i s l in z s a s a s ali f l Schur h m e f, bron e, t nd upon pede t n o ded by a i ir la s i i i a sem c cu r tone bench nv t ng the p sserby to rest an d reflection . 50 A B I O G R A P H Y
On the face of the pedestalan d at either en d of the bench ar e i als s in li asil as i s i as i h allegor c cene re ef, e y ntere t ng work B tter as th r sc a t s hi s s r done . In e cent al ene you h vow word to the se vice his un r il in a l l lm li of co t y , wh e the p ne on the eft the he eted Repub c r i k ai s la sla s an d in a l ang ly brea s the ch n of the b ck ve , the p ne on the r i i it li s wa i izen s ght L ber ty w h her torch ght the y for the c t , young i i in se all ri an d old. er is a s es Th e m n mum of co tume the ego , but such as exists has classicalsuggestions in keeping with t he idealistic u izes also a s i i n . T i li ti m nte t he dea s c to ch char acter the work n h p , whi ch shar ply accentuates the outlines and is content to handle the in a s in i s a s si a la s. es l bod e ucces on of bro d p ne In th e p ne , wrought
a - la ani as ir i r ha hi s a i gr y b ck gr te tough on, B tter p oved t t decor t ve s n s h s li d il t he si lifi e i e e ad by no mean dec ne , wh e mp ed t chn que, r i i i as ir lai s r s s a had educ ng we ghty de to the p ne t te m , howed th t he mastered a new language . r ls z t he fir s Howeve , the pane of the Schur monument were not t i ssa in a si lifi d an d eali s i s e . ar s e y new, mp e , d t c pe ch A few ye before, Bitt er had been asked to decor ate the doors of the First National Bank of Cleveland and on thi s occasion had depar ted— appar en tly for the fir st t im! — from hi s more or les s naturalist past an d achieved the largeness of style sui ted to express ideas an d forms of eter nal — al . l la fi ur es an d ar a i s v ue The C eve nd g men women c y t d done, lik z ls in ar ani — s l i e the Schur pane , h d gr te hou d be compared w th the four figur es of the Ar ts wrought for the New York Metropolita n
s u a s . s s a i al Mu e m ten ye r before . Both work repre ent rch tectur s l r a hi r se r s ill si a a t ri cu ptu e of gh o der, but few ob rve w he t te to t bute the gr ander cfiect as wellas the completer union with facade an d s r r i tr uctu e to the later cont bution . l la was s assi s in s l r a In C eve nd, too , he a ked to t the cu ptu l decoration of the new Cour t House. Here the nature of the task lis i r r i r set himby his clients requir ed a retur n to rea t c po t a tu e . It would be wr ong to convey the idea that he ever acquir ed an aver sion is ki r ar li it ll i t for th nd of wo k ; on the contr y , he ked we wherever was a r ia a mains a al i alis i pprop te, but the f ct re th t the re m of de t c expression open ed to himmor e and more as life advanced an d that the novelty as wellas the un explor ed possibilities of the new style SI K A R L B I T T E R l hi s s s i i r si ured adventurou p r t . A ve y con der able proport ion of his la es an d i s it ill se t t r pe t work, w be found, rved to express hi s new f eli an d is l in r s his i e ng unfo ded the te m of new techn que . ’ Bitter s contr ibutions to the Cleveland Cour t House consist lis is s S r s an d a sfi l in ir of two Eng h jur t , Lord ome Lord M n e d, the ofi cial l a an al s i a a ifi an d p um ge of mo t nhum n m gn cence, of two famous but opposed inter preter s of the Spirit of the Young American
li a il an d efier son . i a s ar e s Repub c, H m ton J The two Amer c n eated on either side of t he entr ance to the Court House an d the manu scripts an d notes in the hand of each suggest that they ar e still i i a di i defen din g the Op n ons th t v ded them when they were alive . A considerable secti on of American hi stor y is expressed by thes e un r s in nial ba r i two fo de peren de te one on the ght, the other on the r al s La left side of the po t to the Hou e of w. Bitter could not approach the eighteenth centur y without reali zing the elegance of dr ess an d bear ing associated wit h its
all a is a i lif . amil as i s a al lai s fundament y r tocr t c e H ton, n tur , proc m ma a efier son ir i ia a the gentle n more th n J , but even the V gn democr t
i i - t li is hf does not deny h s e ghteenth cen ur y neage . It the yout ul s fierson a clar a i n an d rebelliou Je , uthor of the De t on of Indepe dence, who appears befor e us at Cleveland . Short ly after the completion i s a a efier son efier son of thi s work St. Lou dem nded J for the J
MemorialBuildi ng erected to commemor at e the gr eat Fair of 1904. In the previous chapter this buildin g has alr eady received notice ’ in connection with Bitter s tablet repres enting the Signing of the in a Pur chase Treaty of 1803. On be g asked to make further i ial ilin in sha e a efier son contribut on to the Memor Bu d g the p of J , he resolved to work out a difier en t concept from the one adopted for Cleveland and to present an older an d more authorit ative
' r n efler son lti ar hink ff r s Jefie so not J the revo u on y t er, but Je e on i d The ffer son — the chi ef executive of the Un te States. new Je the — si n si s fi ml in hi s air ofi ce s a i ri z Pre de t t r y ch of , e rch ng the ho on with hi s eyes as if he were seeking to di scern the far - off future of hi s people an d his country . ' s iri efler son i a assi sl To do justice to the p t of J , B tter re d duou y l s a rr a i hi s works an d lett er s. He came to ove the omewh t e t c, 52 A B I O G R A P H Y war m- hear ted old democr at an d was not disappointed when he i n i i h s ri har ls . a hi r mmi ss rece ved from f e d , C e R Cr ne, a t d co on for r on i in a Jefie s to be placed on the gr oun ds of the University of V rg i a . ’ a at a l es ill alms in S a ffer son s Loc ted Ch r ott v e, o t the h dow of Je a s si at i ll i si i in ia was f mou re dence Mont ce o, the Un ver ty of V rg the li fi ’ di i dar ng child of Je er son s old age. Not only d the ret red si s i a al li i s si ifi Pre dent, who e w thdr w from po t c gn ed no abatement i s in un li a s i i lif i of ntere t the yo g Repub c , bre the the p r t of e nto the ir i ia rso all r i in al la V gn venture, but he pe n y d ew the or g p n con i ll sistin r s l alls an d i i s. s s a g of g ound , ecture h , dorm tor e It no m source of satisfacti on to the admirer of Jefier son that the University ir in ia i as it s a s a s i es fi s of V g , wh ch, t nd tod y, con t tut one of the ne t ar hi r al s an d wn a la s it s c tectu group up do the f ce of our nd, owe ' eflectiven ss s s s sa ll e to tho e fir t ketches by the ge of Montice o . It was a if s i t n a a l ff s m n e t to B t er whe he tt cked the prob em of Je er on, i si ir i ia a un was the founder of the Un ver ty of V g n , th t the fo der not
' i i al i efler son s alr l dent c w th the other two J eady comp eted, the
' si r rson thinker and the Pre dent . He therefore c eated a thi rd Jefle r li t is fier n r fi li s i . e so s ia e ve y ke the S Lou J to upe c n p ct on , but siml l it r a i an d p er, o der, w h mo e of the gr v ty reverence of the
a r iar . ili i had lann a i p t ch The unve ng , wh ch he p ed to ttend w th ss l s a a . a a joyou comp ny emb ed by Mr Cr ne, the donor, occurred t — three days aft er he fatalaccident without him. Among the portrait commissions which came to Bitter in these days of his growin g reputation two stand for th as being somewhat r s si s a i . s t out of the ord na y In tead of he ucces on of the famou de d ,
two well- known li ving Americans knocked at his studi o door to have their for m an d features reproduced at the urgence of a large i ll body of admi rin g followers. They were Pres dent Ange of the r Univer sity of Michigan an d President Whi t e of CornellUnive sity . Bitter not only enjoyed the diver sion of studying these portraits from the originalinst ead of posing a hi r ed modelin more or less
s a - li also li in r sa i uccessfulm ke be eve, but de ghted the conve t on of thes e rar e an d tr aveled gentlemen who in their long sittings recoun ted in pointed anecdote or sage reflecti on the experiences i of a lifetime of public ser vice glow ng with movement an d color. 53 K A R L B I T T E R
z esi l! in li a r s The bron e Pr dent Ange , re ef, do n the entr ance to the great assembly hall of the Univer sity of Michigan ; President i a ll z fi is sea r es Wh te, fu bron e gure , ted unde the tre on the Cor nell s sil l i i as it r s ground ent y rev ew ng, we e, the tudent generations
Turning again to the work done by Bitter in t he idealistic manner which is so impor tant a feature of the last stage of his el an aflor d l his la dev opment, we c not to neg ect bor s for t he state
is si . adi s a i al a s of W con n At M on, the c p t , new tate buildin g was erected an d of its four pediments two were assigned to Bitter ; to himalso were in t mst ed the symbolic groups high up at the base s in t h r al . se an of e cent dome The group , four number d repr es ent in s c i l a r n l an d ai g, re pe t ve y, Abund nce, St ength, K ow edge, F th, exhibit that gener alized an d suave tr eat ment of the human for m i r s ar e efi which we callclass cal. Though the g oup ective composi ti s it ul a i s as a ra s s i on , wo d be ted ou t k to ttempt to t n po e them nto ra a mis words. An undoubted d wb ck , whether due to the calcula l r a i e is a s tion of the scu pto or of the rch t ct, th t the group ar e r aised to an elevation whi ch removes them from the easy inspection of l anyone not endowed with te escopic vision . ac in wa a a s i s Thi s drawb k no y tt che to the two ped ment . They ir a i la l have been much adm ed , more p rt cu r y the one representing the state of Wisconsin exultantly displaying to the world the wealth of her naturalresources. It would be difli cult to name a monu mental composition oi r ecent year s which is more compact or us i ur s l . s a di better balanced Let rem nd o e ve th t the pe ment, si as a r ar t s s a r S cial iffi li con dered fo m of , pre ent numbe of pe d cu t es. ’ is edi i s ar e s l alms la ll In th p ment of B tter they o ved o t p yfu y, the i i a r i ofi a all an d r a ll r compos t on t pe ng , n tur y g cefu y, from the e ect, majestic female figur e of Wisconsin in the center to the fishers and
n at a les. rs an d an ox hunter s recli ing the ng A ho e , power fully n si l la s i a ram a a a n modeled i mp e p ne , together w th , f wn, dog, a d a badger— this last constituting the loved totem of the state— ar e feli citously distributed among the har vesters an d hunters to call i a a s a is nl a r a i an d n to m nd th t t te not o y cong eg t on of men wome , s fi ls s ams and a i x als. but a comple of wood , e d , tre , n m A spir it 54 A B I O G R A P H Y of joyousness envelops the pediment from end to end supplying the finaltouch which welds it int o unity . i w rais a u T as w When B tter as asked to e mon ment to hom Lo ry , l i i i i s in his da an d r a i be di s ead ng c tizen of M nneapol y gene t on, covered once mor e that the sentiment in favor of a portrait- statue
- s l d a is deep rooted with the average person . The cu ptor ha to gree r in hi x a u i as a s to represent Low y s e act hum n co nterfe t, but ort of sal his i sa i had d him a as ve to d ppo ntment he concede to , to tre t he leas d a si sis in a r ia la l r a p e , te con t g of t ngu r p ot of g ound cre ted by i t the ntersection of two city s reets. r l was a difi cult s ciall ar r assi The p ob em one, e pe y the emb ng fi all la i a lis i hi s a i r i gure of the t , nky M nne po p oneer, whom dm ng
ll - i iz s la r see as had hi m l in fe ow c t en c mo ed to they known , c othed i n i the mpeccable tr ouser s a d frock coat of bourgeois respectabilty . l s lss a mas r as a ear s It wou d be u e e to pretend th t Tho Low y , he pp n w i ze is ta i s l i r s in an a . bron , , ken by h m e f , p ctu e que y y But the ’ tr iangular space put at the artist s disposalwas so intelligently used to modify the plebeian li ter alness of the statue that the total cfiect is entirely different from that produced by t he average bronze patr iot who sounds a humorous or cacophonous note along w i a s. a l i as a i hil our c ty thoroughf re The not b e th ng th t B tter, w e
i a rai - s i hi l- ar si i do ng port t tatue w th s usual who e he t ed ncer ty , concer ned himself chiefly with the monumentalensemble an d the ’ necessity of fitting it harmoniously into the ci ty s establi shed i His r r a s l i vi phys ognomy . pe fo m nce therefore houd be we ghed as e
a i his skillas a wn - la an d s i t he as dence reg rd ng to p nner, uch be ng c e , s a hi ma or m a s sias the t tue, w ch y ay not rou e enthu m on realistic s s i s l a ailin an fiect ive an si i ground , reduce t e f to det e urb compo t on . Tur ning to this composition we note that before the bronze i iz ssar l l s r l c t en , the nece y kerne of the p an preads a t ianguar garden l and a i s a s i it 0 r p ot th t beh nd the t tue , hutt ng 3 from an apa t s i un lss al l a s l i is s ment hou e , wh ch, e conce ed , wou d h ve pe t ru n , r e a all a l t m rb e screen in three sections. In the two end sections of the scr een ar e allegoricalfigures intended to recallthe civic virtues
the man d s al an d ar r i in an i i of upon the pe e t , c ed out mpress ve a i c al ann ri in l was all r i rch te tur m er . The o g alp an that the ego cal SS
CHAPTER VIII
FINALE : THE MAN AND HIS WORK
Thr ough hi s energy an d admini str ative talent as wellas thr ough his ea ss ar i i a in aff i and s a i gerne to p t c p te the ai rs of c ty t te, B tter figured in no inconsiderable manner in the public life of America vi s in in his day. The pre ou chapter s have recorded hi s share ar i s a i i i s and r ises ssi n al i i al an d v ou ct v t e enterp , profe o , mun c p , a i al an d ha asiz his ai all a s an d n t on , ve emph ed f th that the rt , f als sc l a i s fi i in there ore o u pture, h ve the r finaljuti cat on social ’ ’ s r i . Whil in i s i t he ar ti s s im dia e v ce e, B tter v ew, t me te concern ’ was to enhance man s envir onment by adding beauty to utility an d in this sense allcraftsmen alike ar e or should be artists— it was in him t he s ial r i ll s , accord g to , pec p erogat ve of the fo ower of ar e all i r s t o e i es i s a s ir i al i what c ed the F ne A t xerc se b de p tu funct on, i as s an d i e i s nasmuch the Art , together w th them, th Sc ences mut shape the ideals by which alone man can be brought to a con sciousn ess of hi s high des tiny and to the achi evement of a noble
Bitter was the more profoun dly impr essed with this mission of r ts i a s s a l a the A by v rtue of the ttempt , con t nt y renewed , to pre ch the socialdetachment of the ar tist under the confusing battle- cr y ’
ar t for a s sa . was i i in las of rt ke When, therefore, he nv ted , the t his li eli r a lc s l r in an r t se i s year of fe, to d ve e ture on cu ptu e a r e i ral ea a e arranged by the Arch tectu L gue of New York , he ccept d i i lc l a a a a w th alacr ty . The e ture, he reflected , wou d h ve the dv nt ge, nl Of li him r s alliz hi s i as als r s not o y he p ng c y t e own de , but o of p e ent i n li in g them in conci se form to a pr ofes s onala d in fluenti alpub c . in 1 1 l xis s r t l l in a Delivered 9 4, the ecture e t unfo un ate y on y m nu is t a it h s li s s i . a cr pt It to be regret ed th t never been pub hed , especially i n View of the fact that although we boast an abundance s l r ri i s an d a a s a r of books on cu ptu e by c t c m teur , we h ve ve y few by in pr acticing sculptor s with a r ecord of successfulwork their day. 57 K A R L B I T T E R
l in ai is c i alan d ofier s a si ss- li The ecture, the m n, te hn c , bu ne ke, essi al x lana i i es s r a t prof on e p t on, wh ch chew eve y h ckneyed dile a ase t he wa in i i s r w s t nte phr , of y wh ch the product on of tatua y a a lis in as r ccomp hed the p t epochs of Eur opean a t . No reader but willfin d it fullOf marrow an d str ikingly illuminative of many a a i s ri al m in l d rk , h to c co er . But the theme whi ch the ecturer a i ular l li s an d i a es li a r a p rt c y de ght wh ch he we v , ke w e th , through the whole exposition is that in the great per iods of the past the s l was als a i c i z - and cu ptor o rch te t, eng neer, bron e founder, not in f l a li ofii cial — a is was a in a requent y pub c to boot th t , he eng ged i c a i al a all r l s his t i ar is i and d re t, pr ct c m nner on the p ob em of me, t t c s l an d s fir l in li - da c l ia a . r se s oc , tood m y rooted re ty The p e nt y u p t or a i li l i a i c s and as li l , h v ng tt e commerce w th rch te t they tt e with hi m li x lsi l in la an d in sufi cicn t l a i it , mode ng e c u ve y c y y cqua nted w h
c ni s and z - an d fin all the te h que of the tonecutter the bron e founder, , y, called on to make statues or statuettes chiefly for the drawing rooms and countr y houses of wealthy connoisseur s— this specialized s l has in a ases ls sl di cu ptor , too m ny c , become hope e y vorced from
t he a lsi li hi s i . a asso ia i sel i gre t, pu ng fe of t me Th t he re c te h m f w th li i a a i ala ai in s r i l the body po t c , th t he become pr ct c g n the mo t f u tfu s s is l i a in a t i s s ir it and en e of the word, the cu m n t g dem nd of h p ed i mi ss nfor ng e ay . is a r a s a lc essi it a It ppa ent th t uch e ture, expr ve though be of
a i an d a in i s - x i l pr ct calbent gr d ng hop e per ence, cou d not have been written if Bitter had not commanded the hi story of his ar t and been l s i w an ar s s. as as e ne t over of book And uch ndeed the c e . He had ir adi a i far a in his a a a s acqu ed the re ng h b t b ck c demy d y , never l w s m s ls it il li . es a a as his a r ial a to o e wh e he ved The r u t th t, te me n i as ll a si r a l li r ar i hil oas in ncre ed , he co ected con de b e b y, wh ch , w e b t g ’ s lassi s r alli ra ss a s ecialis s the uualc c of gene te ture, confe ed p t l r is interest in the fie d of a t . In th depar tment he bought almost la is l l is i s an d i r a ies ar i ular l v h y, not on y h tor e b og ph , but more p t c y a s Of hi his ll i i al a a an ar t photogr ph , w ch co ect on r v ed th t of m ny l ar e alla a a ar is s ar e e r i schoo . We w re th t t t oft n unconce ned w th books and that somet imes they ar e ignor ant an d contemptuous of fi l s ir i di a . r a l the pa t of even the own mme te e d Though reg ett b e, 58 A B I O G R A P H Y t i s s a thi s is a s i i a l si a is is a all h t te of ng perh p nev t b e nce the rt t , fter , i i a a r s a an d . a o pr m rily c aft m n not a bookworm But new d ctr ne, a r l l ri si r a i es a s a r the common y he d by the ng gene t on, go tep f rther and afli r i ns that a creative ar tist must deliber ately avoid the past r in order not to be br ought unde the tyr anny of the dead masters. is a i i e ai hi s ldin a For th te ch ng B tter ntert ned not ng but corn, ho g th t i w s i l His s w t a bor n of fear and ndo ence . teady pr actice as to read as much as his time allowed in the confident hOpe of enriching hi s l i i i i out ook an d broadening h s personalty . And w thout quest on he s in his r s for as s l ai l si ucceeded t pu po e , , we hou d not f to note, nce it is nub iss ar l a ir was a li i the of the ue, the t know edge he cqu ed v ng thi h r is for it s sa a se it r a ng, c e hed not own ke, but bec u th ew pene t r at in glight on the particular pr oblems which the artists of his day
an d ra i had a . T s e r l s gene t on to f ce he p ob em , however, he never doubted constituted the realconcer n of the living sculptor an d therefor e t hey remai ned the shining centr almark of allhis thought an d s tudy . fi ’ w Two other elds of Bitter s r eading deser ve a wor d . One as
r ica is . His assi hi s a as ll Ame n h tory p on for dopted country , we as r a li s i a him asil x lai s t the g e t pub c task wh ch c me to , e y e p n his lr in i i preference . We have a eady noted that connect on w th hi s a i s ffer son s e i r r s r r a l v r ou Je h dove deep nto the eco d , p efe b y the “ a al s r a ra . a il ctu word , of the g e t democ t H m ton, too , who, by the wa was ill in his a s l i r at a i nl a y, k ed f mou due w th Bur po nt o y few ’ s s l i w s a assi sl tep be ow B tter s Weehawken home, a re d duou y by himbefore he put to paper the first r apid sketch for the Cleveland s i i a air s es iall tatue . In connect on w th each of the gre t f , but pec y on the occasion of the Louisiana Purchase Exposition he di d a considerable amount of r eading having to do with the general l ri a and r i r r s i leas r deve opment of Ame c , the w te emember w th p u e i a i sl in i wi i l a i his r how v v c ou y, connect on th the d p om t c to y of the
Fr anco- American Tr eaty of 1803 he rode into the lists for Living s ri sia a a isi i l tone, whose me t in the matter of the Loui n cqu t on he he d hi s r ia s s i to have been obscured by the to n . One of the book w th which he lived closely before he drew even a line of his plans for ’ t the Pur chase Exposition was Roosevelt s Wi n n i n g of the Wes . 59 K A R L B I T T E R
’ It is not too much to say that thr ough Bitter s sympathetic medi a
i so t i s i i ar i a s r - i t on , me h ng of the p r t of d ng of the f mou ough r der i . i gained plastic expr ession on the St Lou s Fa r grounds. ’ s fi l i s a in i ir The econd e d of B tter re d g, wh ch under no c cum s s ma i si r a i was si the tance y be om tted from con de t on, , u ng term ’ n was a his i all ils . it a s a untech c y, ph o ophy If m n p rt to know ’ r it was i hi m ls s a a s ar count y, , accord ng to , no e m n p t to know i n i somet hing of natur e and the un verse of the su an d star s. B tter shar ed with every considerable person that has ever lived the desir e to obtain a sat isfactory point of View from which to envisage the r i r l in li assembled data of expe ence . Ea y fe he had rejected the naive revolt agai nst the Catholic church— and had gr adually dr ifted into the scien tific- skepticalcurr en ts dominant in the last r i r ifti s s i qua ter of the n neteenth centu y . But dr ng doe not do ju t ce his a i was n s a a to tt tude, for he by o mean content to repe t, p rrot
li the a s i ifi ass s da . is ke, f mou sc ent c p word of the y He w hed to master for himself the chi ef evidence in favor of the new doctrin e l i an a an assi us a s of evo ut on d bec me duo re der of book , not too hn i al r i r a l Of lar i tec c , w tten to p opound , from the ng e modern e n ng, the story of this ear th of ours an d of the manifold life upon it . Hi s i s in a i s a sea li s intere t , for n tance, the gre t ascend ng t ges of fe and land life or in the evolution of the horse from an animalno bigger than a dog was peren nial. Par t of this inter est was no l an li in inf r a i i vi a l doubt mere y uncommon de ght o m t on , but ne t b y , ’ i with his artist s love of unity , he tried t o fit hi s b ts Of knowledge
- w is i into a co ordinated scheme . It as at th po nt that he invaded W i all s a i ma all al ils hat, unconvent on y pe k ng , we y c the re m of ph o
o h and a a a e and ar . s p y, c me upon God, M ker of he v n e th Of cour e the God di sclosed to his manhood sear ch was not the deity of the a li a ismr in his t n or i an C tho c c tech , ejected you h , the de ty of y other hr is ia s i w i is a C t n ect ; t as the God of sc ence, the God who N ture,
i i . L fe, Etern ty ’ Attempting to put the living fai th of Bitter s r ipened manhood much r arer type unfor tunately than the evolutionist who exhausts
60 A B I O G R A P H Y
His s n d i hi mself in negation . joyou a instinct ve sense of an unseen unity transcendin g allappear ance of division led himfinally to a
i s l is an i r defini te step . He declared h m e f a mon t d jo ned the League is s a so i s i ess a a of Mon t , c ety the member of wh ch prof gld, con str uctive fai th in man an d nature an d which is established in all i i r n u r i s its ai s a an d ll a e i e ma . co nt e , though m n e t ch ef fo ow ng G r ny Perhaps no reading of hi s last year s gave himso much comfort an d s r li as li a i s in t he a u ssa s an d la t ong up ft the pub c t on , n t re of e y y
s s i s s i . n is a l s ermon , of th oc ety Some of the mo t p mph et were al a s a l at a his an d i a i w y on the t b e the he d of bed , n ght fter n ght he would dismi ss the tr oubles of the day an d bid his spirit join the harmonious mar ch of nature by lighting his lamp an d reading himself to sleep with hi s eyes glued to a monist dr eam Of progress ll and fe owship . A man whose thoughts r anged so far afield was of course an i a r r a l . i a a ll s iall e ge t ve er B tter c me to know Amer c we , e pec y the s so Of its s a la s li i We t , me more pect cu r wonder , ke the Sequo a s s s ir i him s i i s r u hi s fir si t fore t , t r ng to de cr pt on on et rn to e de hat
a s will . r an d r i the he rer never forget But Eu ope , more pa t cularly
s r ia the ll- l i Au t , we be oved though unk nd mother were not for
l r s- i si s w s gotten . On sever alear y t an Atlant c vi t he a obliged to s ir his a i la a s as in s i k t n t ve nd bec u e , we know, de ert ng from the a had il a in s lw w s rmy he been gu ty of wh t , the eye of the a , a a 1 w V l . 0 as i s a in s fe ony In 9 9 he rejo ced by the new th t, con equence of the vigorous solicitation of hi s Viennese fr iends a pardon had
x him a is se . i l been e tended to by Emperor Fr nc Jo ph Accord ng y, in s r 1 10 i his Wi an hilr as li l the umme of 9 , w th fe d three c d en ve y an d i i i ss s his xis be isi s conv nc ng w tne e of new e tence, rev ted the scene
his . His a had di a his of youth f ther ed the ye r before, but mother and rs a him l in i his i an two brothe m de we come the c ty of b rth , d ai i many a f thfulOld fr end came to shake himby the hand . Apar t from the quiet spir itualsatisfaction of reweldin g the broken pieces his li i a i l as i r i of fe , the journey to V enn y e ded ch ef f u t the cer tain knowledge that he was a der acinated Eur opean an d belonged with ever y corpuscle of hi s blood an d every energy of his spirit to the land of his adoption .
6 1 K A R L B I T T E R
Tr avelin America an d Europe was r eli shed as vacation sight se i a l as it i it al a s ail in l e ng , but, enjoy b e m ght be , w y f ed the ong run to compar e wit h the delight that came to himfr om his summer in wil s. a se a a ars home the d We h ve en how, fter few ye of crowded had il his se an d ks ofi a New York , he bu t hou wor hop the be ten i i metropoltan track on the Weehawken clfis. A char mi ng an d
i i w l - Oi - t r a t as r a m . un que re e t, yet not unt m e ed out doors This i l Of a s s li an isla in Rac uet t e B tter, over n ture, ought by ett ng on nd q ak s a i s a s L e one of the mo t unt med reg on of the Adirond ck . Begin ning i n 1903he migr ated thi ther wi th his growing family ever y year i si l i i s s i w th the ng e except on of the V enne e ummer ment oned above . On the island whi ch he picked for settlement he acquir ed an existent
- a r a i a s all a i an d a oa s . isla c mp , emb c ng m c b n b t hou e The nd , a i i i an di a hi Ot eetiwi a was connected by tr d t on w th In n c ef , by n me,
an impenetr able forest except for the half- acre or so of clearin g at i a la o n li l s l the po nt where t he c mp y. Ar u d the tt e ett ement the s i x i an d its a sc i s fore t, m ed of p ne beech , wove verd nt reen w th uch luxuriance that the fisherman or sailor gliding by in hi s boat noticed ’ no signs of a human habitation untilhe was within stone s throw h of t e shore . w as has it s It as a wildwood Eden , but even Eden , we know, a lss Of l i perils an d disturbances . One h p e Fourth Ju y even ng the a a fir e s was an d in s c mp c ught , ju t how never known , went up moke with such amazing rapidity t hat the sleeping children were barely ’ was snatched from the jaws of death . It not the owner s way to i ’ be di smayed by the sudden r un . When the momin gs sun ar ose he rolled up his sleeves for a fresh start an d began that very day a
i old. ca i a a new cabin on the s te of the The b n done, he dded
i h - s an d fi all a s i r ai si it k tc en , a boat hou e, n y tud o , ng them, be i his own a i l at s a a observed, w th h nd w th the he p of mo t workm n
- or two picked up in the neighboring lumber camps. Of course he did not do it allin the first summer of the fir e nor in the summer his own li a . a ai ai s after that He went de ber te g t, but the f ct rem n a uil hi s in s la r i i s th t he b t home the wood , bo ng w th the utmo t x ila a i a s a s li an e h r t on thr ough m ny week of e ch ummer, much ke early pioneer pushing the edge of civilization for war d into the
62 A B I O G R A P H Y
in i man . si all r k ngdom of the Red And occa on y, order to va y the ’ ’ edi r an s ax as s lan proce ng, he d opped the workm or m on trowe d ili ds ai s and s l i took to bu d ng be , ch r , other hou eho d furn ture out w of the r a t imber at hi s door . a a s s is s la Rac uet t e When , fter m ny ummer of th ort of bor, the q a M was it was as n i in it s wa as s a L ke p done, u que y the uburb n home at Weehawken . Both were not only achievements of his r ai als ar i la l s m a s his b n, but o, p t cu r y the u mer c mp , product of m in a hands. It ay be doubted whether these d ys of specialization an ar tist Often r es ides in a house rai sed by himself actin g in the s ral a a i i s ar i maso ca r an i n eve c p c t e of ch tect, n, rpente , d pa ter . ’ a a a was sa las an i The h ndm de c mp , to y the e t, ev dence of Bitter s si l ls it was als li i a ncere ove of too , but o the v ng proof th t he not only ’ preached but practiced his belief in the ar tist s need of comin g to i i actualgr ps w th life . man a s cr i i was as ear The we h ve been de b ng , he n ed the end of r i s a i r s ali fi in a il the fo t e , r pened pe on ty con rmed ph osophy of life which he had elabor ated fr om an unusually rich and var ied exper i all r s s ak i m . i his a t s a r i ence S nce m nhood wo k pe of h tu ty, we have alr eady discovered it in the great public commi ssions discussed in a l alan the pr evious chapter . But ess monument d more intimate i i r a s a r r s al f ssi r ai n s k nd of work, w th t ce of ve y pe on con e on , em to
r a Scul r h - i e — i ll . t uC a a s d s ki be t e ted p he ven be pr not a of one nd, and an ar tist who tr usts hi s taste discover s that there ar e occasions i a l s i as ar e asi i for be ng fr nk y ubject ve, there other occ ons for be ng ’ r l l n r Of i eso ute y detached a d unmoved . A g oup B tter s works of the last period remaining to be discussed allsound unmistakably
- ar s al . e i a e the w m , per on note Pre m nent mong them ar the Rocke ll ai nd n d ass e ri l fe er Fount n a the Prehn a K on m mo a s. llr oun t ain at a i ills s i a The Rockefe e F Poc nt co H , how ng a n ked goose girlwho has laughingly snat ched a young goose from its ’ r is i s s r i s li i mothe , one of B tter be t t bute to the joy of v ng . To eal i r i l Of is e ris il i d w th the dd e ex t nce, to che h the ph osophic att oes a all an a s s tude, d not t me th t one mu t urrender the view i oi an d r a si l la at po nt youth , to th ow but ng e g nce the Rockefeller Fountain with it s merry confusion of geese an d girlis to receive 63
A B I O G R A P H Y as the chosen habitation of the goddess Spr ing on her annualvisit t o an s an d an d r i ar e wi nii our urb center , Youth Sp ng the t n ge who ’ have set their sealon this attractive sketch . After the artist s a mi i lis i iz s de th , the com ttee of Ind anapo c t en in charge of the project arranged to have the model carr ied to completion by
A . Sti r ling Calder . Thus Indi anapolis willhave the fountain it s ir it illin ai be l an d r l de ed , but w , the m n , ooked upon, ve y proper y , ’
s . a Mr Calder s wor k . ’ laza a a s a al a had The P , g tew y to New York gre t Centr P rk, al a s s i r i hi s a r s Of esi in w y truck B tter, du ng m ny yea r dence the i as lli r al r i i c ty , fa ng sho t of the monument chaacter wh ch m ght be as properly expected of it . He w therefore pleased to hear that a r i ize s li z r had le n New Yo k c t n, Jo eph Pu t e , ft mo ey for a fountain to be er ected on the Plaza an d was positively delighted when the architect to whom the foun tain was intrusted asked himto do the si l fi ur w r ng e g e which as to unify an d crown the en te pr ise . He had so ear s e r in 1 0 t o be a his ilr a ri me y b fo e , 9 9 ex ct, on ch d en r ving at e s l r ull se wi s the ag for choo , reg etf y con nted to move th hi family r i u a ss . Whil in s an d ar cro the ver to New York e rent g the ho e g den , ain s a i s a s i i i hi s im he ret ed the p c ou Weeh wken work hop , d v d ng t e between it an d a smaller studio attached to hi s apar tment in New York Desir ing now to concentr ate hi s undi vided attention on the
laza fi be fi e r sl i - ar r s at i P gure , tt d out ough eep ng qu te the stud o al a si l assis a l ass his where , one except for ng e t nt , he cou d p days ni s r r and ght unr eached an d uninte upted by the worr ies of the day. s n im l a r a i a a i hi s Thu ce tered on h se f, he m de p d he dw y w th
fi h - n it a l in u . s r i ms a d am ar 1 1 g re When p ng ca c e e r y the ye 9 5, br in ging a long succes sion of dazzlin g days— he was enabled to swing his modelonto t he ter r ace outside the studi o overlooking air As Eas r iver and city and to work in the open . ter approached he had a first experimentalcast made an d per mitted himself to be s all x la it el a a a in unu u y e u t nt over , for he f t th t, p rt from m or a s had his i in a ch nge , he concept on h nd The Plaza figur e repr esents a nude woman standi ng wi th left foot somewhat rai sed and body tur ned to the left as she makes r eady wi th quiet deliber ation to scatter a basket of fr ui ts and 6s K A R L B I T T E R
r flowe s. The atmospher e of the figur e is classic in the sense that il is is it i s a wh e there movement, the movement ne her n t ntaneous nor i l an d in the r s s a hil t is ali s a is v o ent, fu ther en e th t w e here re m , th t , a ls a r s a r ar e it az c o e dherence to the fo m of n tu e, we not inv ed to g e at a ar i la i i i aliz a at i a p t cu r, nd v du ed wom n but gener c wom n , the
- i s as eternalwoman mold . That the r e on why the spectator catch
a or ss s s t rha s a am nymph godde of ome or , pe p Pomon , who c e to sca ear r i s the air r in a li tter the th with f u t , though h , t eated w vy nes and imm i r i les li sea- s lls ra s r r ed w th c nk ke he , ther serve to tu n the a a so is ur f ncy tow rd me spir it of the water . The name of co se of no i a an t i r s and ss fi t s mport nce, d no h ng matte but beauty fitne , the e ec ar is aim a hi s r is i all si r the t t ed at . And th t figu e , de y con de ed, a r ria a ai is u ica at a as al h pp op te to fount n comm n ted fl h, thoug , to s i s it s a i all s a a t he do ju t ce to the ar ti t, mu t emph t c y be t ted th t foundations of the par ticular fountain for which it was des igned ’ had only been begun at Bitter s death an d that he never saw the s i s a tructure wh ch now adorns the Plaza . Who know wh t changes l a in his fi if had li swi his he wou d h ve efiect ed gure, he ved to ng plaster modelinto place an d study it in its appointed setting ? Who knows what changes he would have induced the architect to ’ mak an r a a ar a i s a t he fi e At y te when, ye fter B tter de th , gure, ’ faithfun l in sc l s s i i hi s r i si y comp eted the u ptor p r t by f end, I dore i was i an d r s lss Kont , unveiled , founta n figu e sounded omethin g e t a ull a fo a l . il a r r re h n f , b ended chord Th t w lremain matte gret nl a iall l a fi i s l o y p rt y cance ed by the be uty of the gure taken by t e f, a a Vi i sl asser e hal- t umed sl i be uty ctor ou y t d by the f body, the op ng s l r s and l r a lar hou de , the ong , g cefu ms. r il i all in n an d air i the On Ap 9, hav ng worked day the su w th i r lli his l l hi s i at r ve ro ng by under feet, he elated y te ephoned w fe New York that he was as good as done wi th his last touches on the plaster modeland that he must terminate his long wi thdr awal his a il i a li l el r a i n at as s from f m y w th tt e c eb t o . If F e, ome of the e s l is t o i r t s i s an r r s Gre k poet ho d , often moved p ty e e i tr ke d p epa e its i i for r s o i a is ar i v ct m the jou ney he mu tg w th wh pered w n ng, on is asi it is r ai ea s si i lss th occ on ce t n the Dr d Power tood a de, vo ce e 66 A B I O G R A P H Y
nd i s r les s a r a hi a ll a n c utable . No pa t hadow of pp o c ng de th fe upon f s i w s in O hi s s x a i s. his B tter, who a one mo t e p n ve mood He took wi r a an d n a s s o nl li fe to the ope betwee ct p ke o y of the future, ke l is nl s e i i discls it s s one for whom the wor d o y ju t b g nn ng to o e wonder . er a s a and if s e a ss a Then, the op over, hu b nd w e tepp d cro Broadw y t o ta t he st r car s l an a il i ke eet , when udden y utomob e, runn ng i r d i a n s e . ha s muck the c owd, woop d down on them They ju t t me x x s hi i a a la . a s to e ch nge g nce The ne t moment, w fe, knocked over, llsa l t he ls will ar r in a i fe fe y between whee , the d y c ee g m ch ne went
over his body .
us als l a i r ali To mort , ured by the dre m of mmo t ty but not per suaded it i a i s is a l by , the gr m Re per w th the cythe never we come us s in ll ss ar v s g e t, not even when he come the fu ne of the h e t, but when he descends suddenly out of Nowhere reaping the tender laughing i l the st r man at his s i es i i our g r or ong work, he tr k wh te terror nto is souls by the violence an d stark unreason of his act . It this feeling — the needlessnes s an d pity of the thing— that r ules our mind in con t emplatin gthe sudden cutting OS of Kar lBitter at the height of his
powers. But let us make no mistake . While what he had accom plished was in a sense only an ear nes t of vastly gr eater t hings to ’ ll had a had — a s r a s in hi s fo ow, he done wh t he done t ong m n work all r i a s r vi es himan ai s otted hou . The ev dence of th t work u v d rem n us mo a i s see and in an for conte p r r e to to enjoy, but not to judge y fi alwa T will as th s a r us d n y. hat be the t k of o e who come fte an ill r r it in an d imar ialli i who w pe fo m the even p t ght of T me . a his a i and al r l But wh t we of own gener t on , we one, a e ab e to speak of with author ity is the man who has passed from mor tal si r a has ll il i ght foreve . If this n rrative not been who y fut e, t must have made clear that the most constant efior t Of his being was
- z expended in the di rection of his own self r eali ation . His deep down conviction was that only a rich per sonality could efiect a
- i r hi worth while expr ession in the mater ials of h s a t . T s lifelong s l i the ni r hi trugge w th himself accounts for u nte rupted growth w ch , as l s a hi s ar s a s as the is in i one ook b ckward over c eer, t nd out d t ct ve ar r so a i an d hi s ar t an d hi x li s m k of both hi s pe n lty w ch e p a n why, 67 K A R L B I T T E R
w an d r li an d ar e i every here th oughout, fe work of one p ece . He was a ai hf l r i a e s a an d a an d a l aland f t u f end, devot d hu b nd f ther, oy active ci tizen Even people who met himonly casually qui ckly an d instinctively responded to the vigor of hi s mind an d the can dor his s iri an d s sawhimda a da hi s rs of p t, tho e who y fter y, from love at fi si ls l Of s an d us n the re de to the humb e t emp oyee hop ho e , ever l w s s fe t other t han that he a a tower of trength an d the soulof honor. his a s t e s ' i i an d s as ls — if Of m ny work h mo t w n n ng con ummate, a o u an s e i mr ha s c st ufi as dr eams ar e a our h m hope bndeed o e. t n u h m de — i of the most permanent was h mself .
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