Erastus Dow Palmer

Erastus Dow Palmer (Apr 2, 1817 - Mar 9, 1904) was an American sculptor. As a sculptor adhered to the traditions of academic classicism. He performed many portrait busts, as well as a considerable number of statues, semi-figures and medallions of fantastic, allegorical and realistic character.

In his spare time, he was engaged in creative work: originally only artistic carving on wood, carving portraits, then he began to sculpt with success from clay, and then, having learned without the help of teachers engraving on hard stones, he devoted himself entirely to this kind of art. In the 35th year of his life, Palmer, suffering from weak eyesight, leaving an engraving on the rocks, engaged in sculpture. His first work on this part was fashioned by him, and then carved out of marble; Thanks to this work he gained fame.

Palmer was born in Pompey, New York. In his leisure moments as a carpenter he started by carving portraits in cameo, and then began to model in clay with much success. His style was academic classicism.

Palmer grew up in a rural environment and enjoyed formal education for only six months before he started training as a carpenter. At the age of nine he already built a model of a sawmill and at the age of 17 he left Pompey. His wanderings ended in Amsterdam (city, New York) where he worked as carpenter, wood carver and carpenter.

In 1843, Palmer married his second wife in Utica, New York, after his first wife had died in a child's bed. In the same year he produced a cameo of his wife, who followed about 200 more in the following two years. In 1846 he moved to Albany with his family. There he began his career as a sculptor. He made predominantly reliefs for churches as well as portrait busts. At an exhibition of 1850 at the National Academy of Design in New York City, his work attracted great attention, so he was appointed honorary member of the Academy.

In the following years Palmer's hand had a series of portraits and large-format statues made of bronze or marble. In 1873 he went to Paris for some time. There he began the bronze chancery Chancellor Robert R. Livingston, a commissioned work of his home state, which is today in the crypt of the United States Capitol in the capitol of the US federal capital Washington, D. C. is set up.

Palmer died in his home in Albany on March 9, 1904. The painter Walter Launt Palmer (1854-1934), who studied in Paris, is known for his four children. He became a member of the National Academy of Design in 1897.

Palmer's son, Walter Launt Palmer (1854-1932), who studied art under Carolus-Duran in Paris, became a member of the National Academy of Design (1897); and is best known for his painting of snow scenes.

Works:
Peace in Bondage 1863 Albany Institute of History & Art
Erastus Dow Palmer's striking, idealized relief was inspired by a contemporary political event—the Civil War. The angel of peace, whose hands are tied behind her, is shown "wreathed with the broken olive branch, contemplating the ills of War, with compassion and sorrow," Palmer wrote of his work. There are no other sculptural images from this period that reveal such a personal, artistic statement about the country's vulnerability during wartime. Many nineteenth-century sculptures represented bound cupids and angels and mythological women chained. These captive figures provided a vehicle for sculptural form that was both provocative and stimulating. The sensual portrayal of the seminude woman was never an issue with the public with this relief, because its deeper meaning about the war was understood.

Imogen 1874 Albany Institute of History & Art
This ideal bronze bust marks a significant departure in Erastus Dow Palmer"˜s work from his earlier, hand-carved marble sculptures. With her head lowered in a contemplative manner, Imogen's design and overall format were inspired by the ancient classical civilizations, but her loose-fitting clothing and neatly arranged hair are rendered naturalistically. Imogen is a character in Shakespeare's dramatic romance Cymbeline.

Among his works are: The White Captive (I858) in the Metropolitan Museum of Art,
New York; Peace in Bondage (1863); Angel at the Sepulchre (1865), Albany, New York; a bronze statue of Chancellor Robert R. Livingston (1874), in Statuary Hall, Capitol, Washington; and many portrait busts.

The Dawn of Christianity, Marble, 1855. Metropolitan Museum of Art, Manhattan, New York City.
The White Captive, Marble, 1858. Metropolitan Museum of Art, Manhattan, New York City.
Peace in Bondage, Marble relief in the frame, 1863. Albany Institute of History and Art, Albany, New York State.
Peace in Bondage, Marble relief in a different version, 1868. Maryland State Art Collection, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
Angel at the Sepulcher, 1865. Albany Rural Cemetery, Albany, New York State.
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