Elisabeth Gordon Chandler
Encyclopedia
Elisabeth Gordon Chandler (June 10, 1913- November 29, 2006) was an American
sculptor and educator, and the founder of the Lyme Academy College of Fine Arts
.
, initially trained as a harpist, and was performing professionally by the age of eighteen. However, as a young woman she decided to pursue a career in the visual arts, and in New York City
studied sculpture with Edmondo Quattocchi, and anatomy with Robert Beverly Hale
at the Art Students League of New York
.
Chandler received a number of honors; her first award came in 1945, when her bronze figure Victory won first prize in the Brooklyn War Memorial competition. Subsequently she garnered awards from the National Academy of Design
and the National Sculpture Society
, and was the recipient of the Governor's Art Award, State of Connecticut
, and an Honorary Doctorate from St. Joseph's College, West Hartford, Connecticut. Her sculpture has been housed in St. Patrick's Cathedral
in New York City, the British Museum
in London
, Columbia University School of Law, and Princeton University
. Chandler excelled especially in portraiture, and produced busts which were definitive images of such notables as Nobelist
Dr. Albert Michelson, United States Secretary of Defense
James Forrestal
, Supreme Court
Chief Justices John Jay
, Charles Evans Hughes
and Harlan Fiske Stone
, actor Charles Coburn
, artists James Montgomery Flagg
and Alphaeus Philemon Cole
, and Adlai Stevenson.
In 1962 Chandler moved from New York City to Old Lyme, Connecticut. In 1976 she founded the Lyme Academy of Fine Arts (now the Lyme Academy College of Fine Arts) in order to provide students with an education in traditional, representational art. In addition to being the school's founder, she served as a professor of sculpture and trustee of the college until her death.
Chandler was twice married and widowed, first to Robert Kirkland Chandler, and later to fellow sculptor Laci de Gerenday. Professionally she took the name of her first husband, but socially she was known as Elisabeth de Gerenday.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
sculptor and educator, and the founder of the Lyme Academy College of Fine Arts
Lyme Academy College of Fine Arts
The Lyme Academy College of Fine Arts is an art college in Old Lyme, Connecticut-History:The Lyme Academy College of Fine Arts was founded in 1976 by Elisabeth Gordon Chandler as a figurative academy for the teaching of sculpture, figure drawing, Illustration and painting dedicated to the fine arts...
.
Life and work
Elisabeth Gordon Chandler was born in St. Louis, MissouriSt. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
, initially trained as a harpist, and was performing professionally by the age of eighteen. However, as a young woman she decided to pursue a career in the visual arts, and in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
studied sculpture with Edmondo Quattocchi, and anatomy with Robert Beverly Hale
Robert Beverly Hale
Robert Beverly Hale was an artist, curator of American paintings at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and instructor of artistic anatomy at the Art Students League of New York and the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Art...
at the Art Students League of New York
Art Students League of New York
The Art Students League of New York is an art school located on West 57th Street in New York City. The League has historically been known for its broad appeal to both amateurs and professional artists, and has maintained for over 130 years a tradition of offering reasonably priced classes on a...
.
Chandler received a number of honors; her first award came in 1945, when her bronze figure Victory won first prize in the Brooklyn War Memorial competition. Subsequently she garnered awards from the National Academy of Design
National Academy of Design
The National Academy Museum and School of Fine Arts, founded in New York City as the National Academy of Design – known simply as the "National Academy" – is an honorary association of American artists founded in 1825 by Samuel F. B. Morse, Asher B. Durand, Thomas Cole, Martin E...
and the National Sculpture Society
National Sculpture Society
Founded in 1893, the National Sculpture Society was the first organization of professional sculptors formed in the United States. The purpose of the organization was to promote the welfare of American sculptors, although its founding members included several renowned architects. The founding...
, and was the recipient of the Governor's Art Award, State of Connecticut
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
, and an Honorary Doctorate from St. Joseph's College, West Hartford, Connecticut. Her sculpture has been housed in St. Patrick's Cathedral
St. Patrick's Cathedral, New York
The Cathedral of St. Patrick is a decorated Neo-Gothic-style Roman Catholic cathedral church in the United States...
in New York City, the British Museum
British Museum
The British Museum is a museum of human history and culture in London. Its collections, which number more than seven million objects, are amongst the largest and most comprehensive in the world and originate from all continents, illustrating and documenting the story of human culture from its...
in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, Columbia University School of Law, and Princeton University
Princeton University
Princeton University is a private research university located in Princeton, New Jersey, United States. The school is one of the eight universities of the Ivy League, and is one of the nine Colonial Colleges founded before the American Revolution....
. Chandler excelled especially in portraiture, and produced busts which were definitive images of such notables as Nobelist
Nobel Prize
The Nobel Prizes are annual international awards bestowed by Scandinavian committees in recognition of cultural and scientific advances. The will of the Swedish chemist Alfred Nobel, the inventor of dynamite, established the prizes in 1895...
Dr. Albert Michelson, United States Secretary of Defense
United States Secretary of Defense
The Secretary of Defense is the head and chief executive officer of the Department of Defense of the United States of America. This position corresponds to what is generally known as a Defense Minister in other countries...
James Forrestal
James Forrestal
James Vincent Forrestal was the last Cabinet-level United States Secretary of the Navy and the first United States Secretary of Defense....
, Supreme Court
Supreme Court of the United States
The Supreme Court of the United States is the highest court in the United States. It has ultimate appellate jurisdiction over all state and federal courts, and original jurisdiction over a small range of cases...
Chief Justices John Jay
John Jay
John Jay was an American politician, statesman, revolutionary, diplomat, a Founding Father of the United States, and the first Chief Justice of the United States ....
, Charles Evans Hughes
Charles Evans Hughes
Charles Evans Hughes, Sr. was an American statesman, lawyer and Republican politician from New York. He served as the 36th Governor of New York , Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States , United States Secretary of State , a judge on the Court of International Justice , and...
and Harlan Fiske Stone
Harlan Fiske Stone
Harlan Fiske Stone was an American lawyer and jurist. A native of New Hampshire, he served as the dean of Columbia Law School, his alma mater, in the early 20th century. As a member of the Republican Party, he was appointed as the 52nd Attorney General of the United States before becoming an...
, actor Charles Coburn
Charles Coburn
Charles Douville Coburn was an American film and theater actor.-Biography:Coburn was born in Macon, Georgia, the son of Scots-Irish Americans Emma Louise Sprigman and Moses Douville Coburn. Growing up in Savannah, he started out doing odd jobs at the local Savannah Theater, handing out programs,...
, artists James Montgomery Flagg
James Montgomery Flagg
James Montgomery Flagg was an American artist and illustrator. He worked in media ranging from fine art painting to cartooning, but is best remembered for his political posters....
and Alphaeus Philemon Cole
Alphaeus Philemon Cole
Alphaeus Philemon Cole was an American artist, engraver and etcher. He was born in Jersey City, New Jersey and died in New York City. He was the son of noted engraver Timothy Cole...
, and Adlai Stevenson.
In 1962 Chandler moved from New York City to Old Lyme, Connecticut. In 1976 she founded the Lyme Academy of Fine Arts (now the Lyme Academy College of Fine Arts) in order to provide students with an education in traditional, representational art. In addition to being the school's founder, she served as a professor of sculpture and trustee of the college until her death.
Chandler was twice married and widowed, first to Robert Kirkland Chandler, and later to fellow sculptor Laci de Gerenday. Professionally she took the name of her first husband, but socially she was known as Elisabeth de Gerenday.