Robert William Davidson
Encyclopedia
Robert William Davidson was an American
sculptor.
Davidson was born in Indianapolis, Indiana
in 1904. He was an apprentice to his father, Oscar Davidson, also an artist
. He studied sculpture at the John Herron Art Institute ( now the Herron School of Art
), the Art Institute of Chicago
, the School of American Sculpture in New York City, and the Bavarian Fine Arts Academy in Munich, Germany.
Davidson’s wife, Maryetta, was an Indiana ceramics artist
and they both graduated from the John Herron Art Institute in 1926. They moved to Saratoga Springs, New York
where Davidson taught art at Skidmore College
from 1934 to 1972.
Davidson is a nationally known artist whose work is in the collections of the Indianapolis Museum of Art
and the Smithsonian
. He has won many awards for his works including the Art Association Prize at the Herron Art Institute in 1925, the Harry Johnson Prize from Hoosier Salon
in 1930, and two first prize wins at the Indiana State Fair
in 1923 and 1924. He died in Schenectady, New York
in 1982.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
sculptor.
Davidson was born in Indianapolis, Indiana
Indianapolis, Indiana
Indianapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Indiana, and the county seat of Marion County, Indiana. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population is 839,489. It is by far Indiana's largest city and, as of the 2010 U.S...
in 1904. He was an apprentice to his father, Oscar Davidson, also an artist
Artist
An artist is a person engaged in one or more of any of a broad spectrum of activities related to creating art, practicing the arts and/or demonstrating an art. The common usage in both everyday speech and academic discourse is a practitioner in the visual arts only...
. He studied sculpture at the John Herron Art Institute ( now the Herron School of Art
Herron School of Art
Herron School of Art and Design, a school of Indiana University, was ranked 45th overall by U.S. News and World Report among graduate schools of fine arts in 2008....
), the Art Institute of Chicago
Art Institute of Chicago
The School of the Art Institute of Chicago is one of America's largest accredited independent schools of art and design, located in the Loop in Chicago, Illinois. It is associated with the museum of the same name, and "The Art Institute of Chicago" or "Chicago Art Institute" often refers to either...
, the School of American Sculpture in New York City, and the Bavarian Fine Arts Academy in Munich, Germany.
Davidson’s wife, Maryetta, was an Indiana ceramics artist
Ceramic art
In art history, ceramics and ceramic art mean art objects such as figures, tiles, and tableware made from clay and other raw materials by the process of pottery. Some ceramic products are regarded as fine art, while others are regarded as decorative, industrial or applied art objects, or as...
and they both graduated from the John Herron Art Institute in 1926. They moved to Saratoga Springs, New York
Saratoga Springs, New York
Saratoga Springs, also known as simply Saratoga, is a city in Saratoga County, New York, United States. The population was 26,586 at the 2010 census. The name reflects the presence of mineral springs in the area. While the word "Saratoga" is known to be a corruption of a Native American name, ...
where Davidson taught art at Skidmore College
Skidmore College
Skidmore College is a private, independent, liberal arts college with an enrollment of approximately 2,500 students. The college is located in the town of Saratoga Springs, New York State....
from 1934 to 1972.
Davidson is a nationally known artist whose work is in the collections of the Indianapolis Museum of Art
Indianapolis Museum of Art
The Indianapolis Museum of Art is an encyclopedic art museum located in Indianapolis, Indiana, United States. The museum, which underwent a $74 million expansion in 2005, is located on a campus on the near northwest area outside downtown Indianapolis, northwest of Crown Hill Cemetery.The...
and the Smithsonian
Smithsonian Institution
The Smithsonian Institution is an educational and research institute and associated museum complex, administered and funded by the government of the United States and by funds from its endowment, contributions, and profits from its retail operations, concessions, licensing activities, and magazines...
. He has won many awards for his works including the Art Association Prize at the Herron Art Institute in 1925, the Harry Johnson Prize from Hoosier Salon
Hoosier Salon
The Hoosier Salon is a non-profit arts organization that was founded in 1925 by a group called the Daughters of Indiana. That year, the Salon hosted an exhibit in the galleries of the Marshall Field and Company Building in Chicago featuring Indiana artists such as T.C. Steele, J. Ottis Adams and...
in 1930, and two first prize wins at the Indiana State Fair
Indiana State Fair
The Indiana State Fair is an annual fair held in Indianapolis, Indiana, usually in the month of August. The first fair was held in 1881 and the 2009 fair had the highest number of attendees at 973,902....
in 1923 and 1924. He died in Schenectady, New York
Schenectady, New York
Schenectady is a city in Schenectady County, New York, United States, of which it is the county seat. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 66,135...
in 1982.