James Earle Fraser

James Earle Fraser was a renowned American sculptor, best known for designing the Indian Head nickel and the Buffalo nickel, which featured a bison and a Native American on the obverse and reverse sides, respectively, and were minted by the United States Mint. Fraser's work was heavily influenced by his time spent at the Art Students League of New York, where he studied under Hermon Atkins MacNeil and John Quincy Adams Ward. He was also inspired by the works of Auguste Rodin and Frederic Remington, and often incorporated elements of Western art and Native American art into his pieces, which were exhibited at the National Academy of Design and the Corcoran Gallery of Art.

● Early Life and Education

Fraser was born in Winona, Minnesota, to a family of Scottish and English descent, and spent his early years in Minnesota and South Dakota, where he developed a fascination with the American West and the Native American culture, which was influenced by the Dakota War of 1862 and the Wounded Knee Massacre. He studied at the University of Chicago and later at the Art Institute of Chicago, where he was taught by Lorado Taft and Charles Francis Browne, and was exposed to the works of Daniel Chester French and Mary Cassatt. Fraser's education was further enhanced by his time spent at the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris, where he studied under Jean-Antoine Injalbert and Denys Puech, and was influenced by the Belle Époque and the Art Nouveau movement.

● Career

Fraser's career as a sculptor began in the early 1900s, during which time he worked on various projects, including monuments and memorials, such as the End of the Trail and the General George S. Patton Memorial Museum, which were inspired by the Spanish-American War and the World War I. He was also commissioned to create sculptures for the United States government, including the Alexander Hamilton statue in Central Park, which was dedicated by the New York City Parks Department and the National Park Service. Fraser's work was exhibited at various institutions, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the National Gallery of Art, and he was a member of the National Sculpture Society and the Society of American Artists.

● Notable Works

Some of Fraser's most notable works include the Indian Head nickel, which was minted from 1913 to 1938, and the Buffalo nickel, which was minted from 1913 to 1938, and featured a bison and a Native American on the obverse and reverse sides, respectively. He also created the End of the Trail, a sculpture depicting a Native American on horseback, which was exhibited at the Panama-Pacific International Exposition and the World's Columbian Exposition, and was inspired by the California Gold Rush and the Transcontinental Railroad. Additionally, Fraser designed the General George S. Patton Memorial Museum, which was dedicated to the United States Army general, and was influenced by the D-Day and the Battle of the Bulge.

● Awards and Legacy

Fraser received numerous awards and honors for his work, including the National Medal of Arts and the Pulitzer Prize, which were presented by the National Endowment for the Arts and the Columbia University, respectively. He was also elected to the National Academy of Design and the American Academy of Arts and Letters, and was a member of the Society of American Artists and the National Sculpture Society. Fraser's legacy continues to be celebrated, with his works remaining on display at institutions such as the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the National Gallery of Art, and his designs continuing to be used on United States currency, including the United States dollar and the United States quarter.

● Personal Life

Fraser was married to Laura Gardin Fraser, a fellow sculptor, and the couple had no children, but were close friends with other artists, including Gutzon Borglum and John Singer Sargent, and were members of the Art Students League of New York and the National Sculpture Society. Fraser passed away on October 11, 1953, in Westport, Connecticut, and was buried in Washington, D.C., with a funeral service held at the National Cathedral, which was attended by the President of the United States and the United States Congress. His wife, Laura Gardin Fraser, continued to work as a sculptor until her death in 1966, and was a member of the National Academy of Design and the American Academy of Arts and Letters. Category:American sculptors