Monday Morning Museum: Thomas Crawford

Thomas Crawford, the Sculptor, circa 1876

Thomas Crawford – Tuesday 22 March 1814 New York, New York to Saturday 10 October 1857 London, England

American Neoclassical Sculptor

Genius of Mirth, 1843

“While on a visit to Crawford's Roman studio in 1842, Henry Hicks of New York commissioned a piece of sculpture, leaving the subject entirely to the sculptor. Crawford's choice of a youthful dancer was almost certain to please his new patron, for images of children were popular in nineteenth-century art. Most likely inspired by a copy of the Hellenistic sculpture "Dancing Faun," Crawford completed this work in marble in Rome in 1843. He described this "statue of Youth" as "a boy of seven or eight years, dancing in great glee, and tinkling a pair of cymbals, the music of which seems to amuse him exceedingly. The sentiment is joyousness throughout. It is evident no thought of the future troubles his young mind: and he may consider himself very fortunate in being made of marble; for thus his youth remains without change." Crawford first exhibited "Genius of Mirth" at the National Academy of Design in New York in 1844.” – Metropolitan Museum of Art

Last Monday’s Artist – Ogata Korin
Next Monday’s Artist – Adolphe Braun

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