Walt Whitman

model 1885, cast 1895

Paul Wayland Bartlett

Associated Names
Paul Wayland Bartlett

Sculptor, American, 1865 - 1925

The sculpture is a relief portrait of a man with a long, flowing beard and mustache, wearing a wide-brimmed hat. The man's facial features are detailed, capturing his eyes, nose, and the texture of his beard and clothing. The sculpture is circular, giving it a medallion-like appearance. The color of the sculpture is a reddish-brown, suggestive of bronze or a similar metal, with a weathered texture that highlights the details of the relief. The subject appears to be in a three-quarter view, looking slightly to the side, with the name "Walt Whitman" inscribed at the top left edge of the piece. The texture and patina suggest age and a sense of history, while the overall craftsmanship gives a sense of realism and attention to detail.

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Artwork overview


Artwork history & notes

Provenance

The artist's step-daughter, Caroline Ogden-Jones Peter [Mrs. Armistead Peter III, 1894-1965], Washington; gift 1958 to the Cocoran Gallery of Art, Washington; acquired 2015 by the National Gallery of Art.

Associated Names

Bibliography

1898

  • Bullet, Emma. "Recent Work of Paul Wayland Bartlett, John Flanagan and Denys Puech in Paris." The Monumental News 10, no. 6 (June 1898): 342-343, repro.

Inscriptions

lower right: P / WB 85. / Fondu En / 1895.; lower right along circumference: © [illegible] BARTLETT; around circumference: Walt Whitman


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