Henry Kirke Bush-Brown was an American sculptor. He became known for historically accurate realistic sculptures of persons, which became famous and were portrayed in American history.
Background
Henry Kirke Bush-Brown was born on April 21, 1857 in Ogdensburg, New York, the son of Robert W. and Caroline (Udall) Bush. When he was eight years old he was taken by his parents to visit his aunt Lydia Udall Brown, wife of the sculptor Henry Kirke Brown. Taking a fancy to the lad and being childless, they begged to be allowed to adopt him. Thus it was that he took his uncle's name and grew up on his farm near Newburgh, and in his studio. . It was not until he attained maturity and his uncle had died that he combined the names Bush and Brown.
Education
In Newburgh young Henry attended the Siglar School and lived the life of a normal boy of the period, with, however, dominant interest in all that went on in his uncle's studio.
Undoubtedly the nephew was strongly influenced by him and his work. After finishing school Bush-Brown seriously took up the study of sculpture under his uncle and in the National Academy of Design.
Together they went aboard, studied in Paris, and then went to Florence, where Bush-Brown cut a statue for his uncle and did some work on his own initiative.
Career
Upon establishing himself on the farm near Newburgh, which his uncle and adopted father had left him, Bush-Brown undertook a large group entitled "The Buffalo Hunt, " which was completed in time to be shown at the World's Columbian Exposition. As a help in the accomplishment of this project, he brought East a young Blackfoot Indian, Lone Wolf, whom, with a buffalo and an Indian pony, he established on his farm, much to the delight of his children and the wonderment of neighbors.
The cast of this spirited work was preserved and on February 28, 1935, the library committee of the House of Representatives recommended that a reproduction in bronze be made and placed in Potomac Park, Washington, but no funds for the purpose were made available. The sculptor, however, is well represented in the capital by numerous other works of no less outstanding quality.
In 1910 he moved with his family to Washington, where in the down-town section he built a spacious and well-lighted studio adjacent to an old house, 1727 G Street, which he acquired. Here it was that some of his best work was done, including several fullsize equestrian statues. Three of these, those of General Meade, General Reynolds, and General Sedgwick are at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, and one, that of Anthony Wayne, is at Valley Forge.
His portrait bust of his uncle is in the Hall of Fame at New York University.
He died in his seventy-eighth year and was buried in Memorial Cemetery, Arundel, Maryland.
Achievements
Henry Kirke Bush-Brown was a well-established sculptor of his time, whose works still appreciated as of today. One of his most famous works was a large group entitled "The Buffalo Hunt, " which was created to be shown at the World's Columbian Exposition. The other three most remarkable works are: sculpture of General Meade, General Reynolds, and General Sedgwick are at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, and one, that of Anthony Wayne, is at Valley Forge.
The Library of Congress has several of his written works as well, which he wrote during his last years deposited in the Library of Congress as a permanent memorial: "Life and Letters of Henry Kirke Brown, 1814-1886, and Lydia L. Udall, His Wife".
His life spanned the development of American sculpture from the first stirring of nationalistic consciousness to the complete realization of American ideals, and his works may be regarded as mile-posts along the way.
Among Bush-Brown's other works of note are a statue of Justinian, Appellate Court Building, New York; Memorial Arch, Stony Point; Memorial Fountain, Hudson, New York; Lincoln Memorial, Gettysburg; Union Soldier, Charleston, West Virginia; Memorial tablet, "Relief, " Union League Club, Philadelphia, and numerous portraits, among which, perhaps, the best is that of the late Lord Bryce, which is in the National Collection of Fine Arts, Washington.
Views
Inherently Bush-Brown was not only an artist but a reformer. He always had some measure for the betterment of mankind in mind, which at the moment he zealously advocated.
Membership
Henry Kirke Bush-Brown was a member of the National Sculpture Society and of the Architectural League of New York, and other art organizations.
Personality
He was an ardent and assiduous worker. Invariably optimistic, genial, and friendly, he was not one to give or take offense.
Quotes from others about the person
Of the first mentioned Lorado Taft wrote: "The 'General Meade, ' at least, has an air of distinction and of monumental dignity. Our country offers few equestrian statues more happily conceived than this . .. "
Connections
On April 7, 1886, Henry Kirke Bush-Brown married Margaret W. Lesley of Philadelphia, an accomplished young painter whom he had met as a little girl. A son, Harold, and a daughter, Lydia, were born to them while abroad and two sons, Malcolm and James, after their return, all of whom inherited from their parents artistic talent.
