Forrest F. Stark

Portrait of William Forsyth, about 1934

bronze

13 inches high

James V. Sweetser Fund

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Forrest Stark was born in Wisconsin and began his art training at the Wisconsin School of Art in Milwaukee and was also a graduate of Milwaukee State Teachers’ College.  He continued his training at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts and the Art Students League in New York.  After completing his study at the Pennsylvania Academy, Stark was awarded the Cresson scholarship to study and travel in Europe.  He became head of the sculpture department and instructor in oil still life painting at the John Herron Art Institute.  Stark produced work in sculpture, pastels, watercolors and oils.

This portrait bust was completed in the last year of Forysth’s life.  No longer “cocky,” as he often was accused of being, Forsyth was old, sad and disillusioned over the loss of his position as teacher at Herron.  Stark succeeded in vividly capturing his sitter’s emotional state by rendering the artist before him in a truthful manner.

Reference

Information on Forrest Stark can be found in the artist’s file at the Indianapolis Museum of Art’s Stout Library.