Augustus Saint-Gaudens (Dublin, March 1, 1848 - Cornish, New Hampshire, August 3, 1907), was the Irish-born American sculptor of the Beaux-Arts generation who most embodied the ideals of the "American Renaissance." Raised in New York City, he traveled to Europe for further training and artistic study, and then returned to major critical success in the design of monuments commemorating heroes of the American Civil War, many of which still stand. In addition to his famous works such as the Robert Gould Shaw Memorial on Boston Common and the outstanding grand equestrian monuments to Civil War generals John A. Logan, atop a tumulus in Chicago, 1894-97, and William Tecumseh Sherman, at the corner of New York's Central Park, 1892-1903, Saint-Gaudens also maintained an interest in numismatics and designed the twenty-dollar "double eagle" gold piece, for the US Mint in 1905-7, still considered the most beautiful American coin ever issued as well as the $10 "Indian Head" gold eagle, both of which were minted from 1907 until 1933. In his later years he founded the "Cornish Colony," an artistic colony that included notable painters, sculptors, writers, and architects. Further information about this individual or organization may be available in the Special Collections Research Center Wiki:
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Augustus Saint-Gaudens Letters, Special Collections Research Center, Swem Library, College of William and Mary.
Letter, 1886 June 24, Augustus Saint-Gaudens, [New York, N. Y.] to John Gellatly [New York, N. Y.]. Concerning two works of art ["Badge" ?] and a terra cotta. 2 p. ; 25 cm. Letter, undated, Augustus Saint-Gaudens to Mrs. S. G. Ward. Comments on his work during a certain period and the portraits of "Mr. Ward, Miss Lee, the Butler boys, and my own boy."