Adolph Alexander Weinman

Bust of Benjamin Harrison, before 1921

bronze

H: 23 ¼ in.

Gift of the Harrison Memorial Association

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Adolph Weinman was born in Germany and came to New York at the age of ten.  He studied at The Cooper Union and Art Students League in New York with such important sculptures as Augustus St. Gaudens and Daniel Chester French.  He is best known as the designer of the “Walking Liberty” half dollar and the “Mercury” dime.  His architectural sculpture can be found around the country and includes the Macomb and Maybury monuments for Detroit, The Continents for the New York Customs House and a statue of Abraham Lincoln for Hodgenville, Kentucky.  Many of his smaller sculptures are classical figures of dancers, ball throwers, golfers, allegorical and mythological subjects.  Weinman paid particular attention to anatomy and movement of the figures being portrayed.  He also sculpted numerous busts of Native Americans and political figures.

The portrait bust of Benjamin Harrison is typical of Weinman’s handling of details in the president’s facial features, beard and clothes and his use of bronze as his primary sculpting material. A 24-cent stamp with a profile of Benjamin Harrison was designed from a photograph of this bust. The stamp went on sale December 2, 1938 and remained in circulation until 1954.  Harrison was born in Cincinnati but moved to Indianapolis, where he practiced law and became a leader in Indianapolis.  He was defeated for Governor in 1876, but served in the United States Senate and became President of the United States in 1889.  When Harrison left office, he returned to Indianapolis where he remained until his death in 1901. 

Reference:

John J. Cummingham.  Adolph A. Weinman, Athens, GA: The University of Georgia Press, 1950. ASIN: B001THZB2A