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SOM#054, Paul Fjelde, Walt Whitman, 1956
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From the collection of John Birks
Numbers Issued: 635 Bronze
FROM THE SCULPTOR
The artist’s concept of the Walt Whitman medal:
In 1955, the literary world celebrated the 100th anniversary of the first publication of Leaves of Grass attaching great importance to the event, which acknowledged Whitman to be America’s greatest poet. It seemed appropriate that an issue of The Society of Medalists be devoted to commemorate the celebration.
Accordingly, a design was prepared by the sculptor, showing a relief portrait of Whitman in middle age on the obverse side, with the opening words of one of his most famous poems encircling the head.
The reverse side depicts the singing thrush which occurs as an inspirational symbol in “When Lilacs Last In The Dooryard Bloomed” and in other Whitman poems. The lilac leaves and blossoms and the blades of grass in the background further express the commemorative theme. The lettering on this side of the medal was adapted from the actual type used on the title page of the first edition of Leaves of Grass.
ABOUT THE SCULPTOR
Paul Fjelde was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota in 1892. His father, a sculptor of distinction, was Norwegian, his mother Danish. At the age of fourteen he became a student at the Minneapolis School of Fine Arts. Later he attended the Beaux Arts and Art Students League in New York. He also studied at the Royal Academy in Copenhagen and the Academy Chaumiere in Paris.
He was awarded a traveling fellowship from the American Scandinavian Foundation and a citation from the Eastern Arts Association and has won a number of competitions. His works include the Lincoln monument in Oslo, Norway, (replicas in North Dakota and Illinois); the Colonel Heg monument in Lier, Norway and Madison Wisconsin; panels on the Westinghouse monument in Pittsburgh, Pa. (Henry Hornbostel, architect); the pierced relief bronze figures on the Baker Field gates of Columbia University; the Wendell Willkie memorial in the Indiana State House; bronze panels on the Second National Bank Building, Boston (Thomas M. James Company, Architects); as well as architectural sculpture on many schools, banks and office buildings. Numerous portrait busts, memorial tablets and medals have come form his studio, among these a portrait bust of Col. Charles A. Lindbergh, modeled form sittings in New York.
He is represented by work in the Numismatic Society collection, the Hispanic Museum, the Walker Museum in Minneapolis, the Museum of the Minnesota Historical Society in St. Paul, the Norton Museum in Florida, and Brookgreen Gardens.
Fellow and former secretary of the National Sculpture Society, he was editor for the first four years of its publication of National Sculpture Review.
An associate of the National Academy of Design, he is a member of the Grand Central Art Galleries, the Eastern Arts Association, and Allied Artists of America.
For many years a teacher of modeling, drawing and design at Pratt Institute, he holds the position of Professor of Art at that famed art school.
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![SOM#054, Paul Fjelde, Walt Whitman, 1956
[b]From the collection of John Birks[/b]
[i]Numbers Issued: 635 Bronze[/i]
[b]FROM THE SCULPTOR[/b]
The artist’s concept of the Walt Whitman medal:
In 1955, the literary world celebrated the 100th anniversary of the first publication of [i]Leaves of Grass[/i] attaching great importance to the event, which acknowledged Whitman to be America’s greatest poet. It seemed appropriate that an issue of The Society of Medalists be devoted to commemorate the celebration.
Accordingly, a design was prepared by the sculptor, showing a relief portrait of Whitman in middle age on the obverse side, with the opening words of one of his most famous poems encircling the head.
The reverse side depicts the singing thrush which occurs as an inspirational symbol in “When Lilacs Last In The Dooryard Bloomed” and in other Whitman poems. The lilac leaves and blossoms and the blades of grass in the background further express the commemorative theme. The lettering on this side of the medal was adapted from the actual type used on the title page of the first edition of [i]Leaves of Grass.[/i]
[b]ABOUT THE SCULPTOR[/b]
Paul Fjelde was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota in 1892. His father, a sculptor of distinction, was Norwegian, his mother Danish. At the age of fourteen he became a student at the Minneapolis School of Fine Arts. Later he attended the Beaux Arts and Art Students League in New York. He also studied at the Royal Academy in Copenhagen and the Academy Chaumiere in Paris.
He was awarded a traveling fellowship from the American Scandinavian Foundation and a citation from the Eastern Arts Association and has won a number of competitions. His works include the Lincoln monument in Oslo, Norway, (replicas in North Dakota and Illinois); the Colonel Heg monument in Lier, Norway and Madison Wisconsin; panels on the Westinghouse monument in Pittsburgh, Pa. (Henry Hornbostel, architect); the pierced relief bronze figures on the Baker Field gates of Columbia University; the Wendell Willkie memorial in the Indiana State House; bronze panels on the Second National Bank Building, Boston (Thomas M. James Company, Architects); as well as architectural sculpture on many schools, banks and office buildings. Numerous portrait busts, memorial tablets and medals have come form his studio, among these a portrait bust of Col. Charles A. Lindbergh, modeled form sittings in New York.
He is represented by work in the Numismatic Society collection, the Hispanic Museum, the Walker Museum in Minneapolis, the Museum of the Minnesota Historical Society in St. Paul, the Norton Museum in Florida, and Brookgreen Gardens.
Fellow and former secretary of the National Sculpture Society, he was editor for the first four years of its publication of [i]National Sculpture Review[/i].
An associate of the National Academy of Design, he is a member of the Grand Central Art Galleries, the Eastern Arts Association, and Allied Artists of America.
For many years a teacher of modeling, drawing and design at Pratt Institute, he holds the position of Professor of Art at that famed art school.
Keywords: sold](albums/userpics/10001/SOM%23054-combo.jpg "SOM#054, Paul Fjelde, Walt Whitman, 1956
[b]From the collection of John Birks[/b]
[i]Numbers Issued: 635 Bronze[/i]
[b]FROM THE SCULPTOR[/b]
The artist’s concept of the Walt Whitman medal:
In 1955, the literary world celebrated the 100th anniversary of the first publication of [i]Leaves of Grass[/i] attaching great importance to the event, which acknowledged Whitman to be America’s greatest poet. It seemed appropriate that an issue of The Society of Medalists be devoted to commemorate the celebration.
Accordingly, a design was prepared by the sculptor, showing a relief portrait of Whitman in middle age on the obverse side, with the opening words of one of his most famous poems encircling the head.
The reverse side depicts the singing thrush which occurs as an inspirational symbol in “When Lilacs Last In The Dooryard Bloomed” and in other Whitman poems. The lilac leaves and blossoms and the blades of grass in the background further express the commemorative theme. The lettering on this side of the medal was adapted from the actual type used on the title page of the first edition of [i]Leaves of Grass.[/i]
[b]ABOUT THE SCULPTOR[/b]
Paul Fjelde was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota in 1892. His father, a sculptor of distinction, was Norwegian, his mother Danish. At the age of fourteen he became a student at the Minneapolis School of Fine Arts. Later he attended the Beaux Arts and Art Students League in New York. He also studied at the Royal Academy in Copenhagen and the Academy Chaumiere in Paris.
He was awarded a traveling fellowship from the American Scandinavian Foundation and a citation from the Eastern Arts Association and has won a number of competitions. His works include the Lincoln monument in Oslo, Norway, (replicas in North Dakota and Illinois); the Colonel Heg monument in Lier, Norway and Madison Wisconsin; panels on the Westinghouse monument in Pittsburgh, Pa. (Henry Hornbostel, architect); the pierced relief bronze figures on the Baker Field gates of Columbia University; the Wendell Willkie memorial in the Indiana State House; bronze panels on the Second National Bank Building, Boston (Thomas M. James Company, Architects); as well as architectural sculpture on many schools, banks and office buildings. Numerous portrait busts, memorial tablets and medals have come form his studio, among these a portrait bust of Col. Charles A. Lindbergh, modeled form sittings in New York.
He is represented by work in the Numismatic Society collection, the Hispanic Museum, the Walker Museum in Minneapolis, the Museum of the Minnesota Historical Society in St. Paul, the Norton Museum in Florida, and Brookgreen Gardens.
Fellow and former secretary of the National Sculpture Society, he was editor for the first four years of its publication of [i]National Sculpture Review[/i].
An associate of the National Academy of Design, he is a member of the Grand Central Art Galleries, the Eastern Arts Association, and Allied Artists of America.
For many years a teacher of modeling, drawing and design at Pratt Institute, he holds the position of Professor of Art at that famed art school.
Keywords: sold")
