In 1922, the statue of Joan of Arc installation in the Chapel of St. Martin de Tours occurred. It is a delicate, linear piece in the Medieval style. The acclaimed sculptor brought a familiar statue subject to the French aligned chapel at the Cathedral.
Anna Hyatt Huntington (1876-1973) was among New York City’s most prominent sculptors. At a time when very few women were successful artists, she had a thriving career. She exhibited often and traveled widely. She received critical acclaim at home and abroad, and won awards and commissions. In 1912 she was one of only 12 American women earning over $50,000 a year.
In 1915, Hyatt Huntington created the first public monument in New York City by a woman. Her bronze Joan of Arc, located on Riverside Drive at 93rd Street is also the city’s first monument to a historical woman. It is one and one third life-size. The same prestigious committee that sponsored this monument was instrumental in getting the acclaimed sculptor to add a statue to the Cathedral chapel.
Hyatt Huntington’s Legacy
Hyatt Huntington’s work is now displayed in many of New York’s leading institutions and outdoor spaces. These include Columbia University, the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the National Academy of Design. As well, they are at the New York Historical Society, the Hispanic Society, the Cathedral of St. John the Divine, Central Park, Riverside Park and the Bronx Zoo. Despite the presence of her sculptures throughout the city, Hyatt Huntington is not well-recognized today. An exhibition at Columbia University’s Miriam and Ira D Wallach Art Gallery has focused on her New York career.
- Connecticut History web site
- Smithsonian – Archives of American Art
- Columbia University exhibit Miriam and Ira D. Wallach Art Gallery
- A Guide to the Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine – 1928
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