Henry Shrady
Encyclopedia
Henry Merwin Shrady was the sculptor of the Ulysses S. Grant Memorial
in Washington, D.C.
Shrady was born in New York City
. His father, George Shrady, was one of the physicians who attended former president Ulysses S. Grant
during the struggle with throat cancer
that led to his death on July 23, 1885.
Shrady graduated from Columbia University
in 1894 and spent one year thereafter at Columbia's law school. He left law school to join with his brother-in-law, Jay Gould (son of millionaire Edwin Gould, the financier), at the Continental Match Company. The company failed and Shrady contracted typhoid fever which diverted him forever from the business world. His recuperation left spare time to pursue a growing interest in art.
Shrady's wife, Harrie Moore, submitted some of his paintings to an exhibition of the National Academy of Design
without his knowledge and they sold quickly. He then began to teach himself sculpture using zoo animals and his pets as models.
Shrady and architect William Casey Pearce won the competition to build the Ulysses S. Grant Memorial in 1902. In the twenty years Shrady spent executing the memorial, he studied biology at the American Museum of Natural History
and dissected horses to gain a better understanding of animal anatomy. The memorial was dedicated in 1922, a few weeks after Shrady's death. The Grant Memorial is described as "one of the must important sculptures in Washington" by James M. Goode in The Outdoor Sculpture of Washington, D.C.
In 1908, the Roman Bronze Works
built a home and studio for Shrady at White Plains, New York
. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places
in 1982 as the Leo Friedlander Studio
.
Ulysses S. Grant Memorial
The Ulysses S. Grant Memorial is a presidential memorial in Washington, D.C., honoring American Civil War general and U.S. President Ulysses S. Grant...
in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
Shrady was born 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...
. His father, George Shrady, was one of the physicians who attended former president Ulysses S. Grant
Ulysses S. Grant
Ulysses S. Grant was the 18th President of the United States as well as military commander during the Civil War and post-war Reconstruction periods. Under Grant's command, the Union Army defeated the Confederate military and ended the Confederate States of America...
during the struggle with throat cancer
Esophageal cancer
Esophageal cancer is malignancy of the esophagus. There are various subtypes, primarily squamous cell cancer and adenocarcinoma . Squamous cell cancer arises from the cells that line the upper part of the esophagus...
that led to his death on July 23, 1885.
Shrady graduated from Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
in 1894 and spent one year thereafter at Columbia's law school. He left law school to join with his brother-in-law, Jay Gould (son of millionaire Edwin Gould, the financier), at the Continental Match Company. The company failed and Shrady contracted typhoid fever which diverted him forever from the business world. His recuperation left spare time to pursue a growing interest in art.
Shrady's wife, Harrie Moore, submitted some of his paintings to an exhibition of 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...
without his knowledge and they sold quickly. He then began to teach himself sculpture using zoo animals and his pets as models.
Shrady and architect William Casey Pearce won the competition to build the Ulysses S. Grant Memorial in 1902. In the twenty years Shrady spent executing the memorial, he studied biology at the American Museum of Natural History
American Museum of Natural History
The American Museum of Natural History , located on the Upper West Side of Manhattan in New York City, United States, is one of the largest and most celebrated museums in the world...
and dissected horses to gain a better understanding of animal anatomy. The memorial was dedicated in 1922, a few weeks after Shrady's death. The Grant Memorial is described as "one of the must important sculptures in Washington" by James M. Goode in The Outdoor Sculpture of Washington, D.C.
In 1908, the Roman Bronze Works
Roman Bronze Works
Roman Bronze Works in New York City, established in 1897 by Ricardo Bertelli, was the pre-eminent sculpture bronze foundry in the United States during the American Renaissance. It continued to cast sculpture after that period ended. Its foundry, long a sub-contractor to Louis Comfort Tiffany's...
built a home and studio for Shrady at White Plains, New York
White Plains, New York
White Plains is a city and the county seat of Westchester County, New York, United States. It is located in south-central Westchester, about east of the Hudson River and northwest of Long Island Sound...
. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
in 1982 as the Leo Friedlander Studio
Leo Friedlander Studio
Leo Friedlander Studio is a historic home and artist's studio located at White Plains, Westchester County, New York. It was built in 1908 by the Roman Bronze Works and is a -story building built of concrete block covered in stucco. It features classical style details, a copper-covered gable roof,...
.
Works
- Ulysses S. Grant MemorialUlysses S. Grant MemorialThe Ulysses S. Grant Memorial is a presidential memorial in Washington, D.C., honoring American Civil War general and U.S. President Ulysses S. Grant...
, equestrian, in front of the United States CapitolUnited States CapitolThe United States Capitol is the meeting place of the United States Congress, the legislature of the federal government of the United States. Located in Washington, D.C., it sits atop Capitol Hill at the eastern end of the National Mall...
in Washington D.C, completed in 1920. - George WashingtonGeorge WashingtonGeorge Washington was the dominant military and political leader of the new United States of America from 1775 to 1799. He led the American victory over Great Britain in the American Revolutionary War as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army from 1775 to 1783, and presided over the writing of...
at Valley Forge, equestrian, Brooklyn, New York - General Alpheus S. WilliamsAlpheus S. WilliamsAlpheus Starkey Williams was a lawyer, judge, journalist, U.S. Congressman, and a Union general in the American Civil War.-Early life:...
Memorial, equestrian, Belle IsleBelle Isle- Places :In Canada* Belle Isle , an island and strait In England, UK* Belle Isle, an area of Leeds, West Yorkshire* Belle Isle , an island in Lake District, Cumbria...
, Detroit, MichiganDetroit, MichiganDetroit is the major city among the primary cultural, financial, and transportation centers in the Metro Detroit area, a region of 5.2 million people. As the seat of Wayne County, the city of Detroit is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan and serves as a major port on the Detroit River... - Robert E. LeeRobert E. LeeRobert Edward Lee was a career military officer who is best known for having commanded the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia in the American Civil War....
, equestrian, Charlottesville, VirginiaCharlottesville, VirginiaCharlottesville is an independent city geographically surrounded by but separate from Albemarle County in the Commonwealth of Virginia, United States, and named after Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, the queen consort of King George III of the United Kingdom.The official population estimate for...
, finished by Leo LentelliLeo LentelliLeo Lentelli was an Italian sculptor who immigrated to the United States. During his 52 years in the United States he created works throughout the country, notably in New York and San Francisco. He also taught sculpture....
following Shrady's death