Charles A. Brooks was one
of the USA's finest vignette engravers; his career lasted from the late 1930s to the mid-1960s. In my opinion, one
of his greatest talents was his ability to engrave depictions
of sculptures; here are images
of three examples
of Brooks's skill in this genre, along with photos
of the relevant artworks. (Lettering engraving on all three
stamps by J.S. Edmondson).
- nethryk
Louisiana Purchase 150th Anniversary, issued on April 30, 1954, Scott No. 1020.
"Louisiana Purchase," bronze by Karl Theodore Francis Bitter (1867-1915), Austrian-born American sculptor: Robert Livingston (standing), James Monroe (seated), and Francis Barbe-Marbois signing the document by which the United States purchased the land west
of the Mississippi River. This sculpture was originally designed for the 1904 St. Louis World's Fair and made out
of staff, a temporary plaster and fiber material. It was recast in bronze for the Capitol Complex in Jefferson City, Missouri.
American Bar Association 75th Anniversary, issued on August 24, 1953, Scott No. 1022.
A portion
of the West Wall Frieze in the courtroom
of the U.S. Supreme Court, sculpted by Adolph A. Weinman (1870–1952), a noted German-born American Beaux-Arts sculptor. It is an allegorical representation
of "Good Versus Evil." In this sculpture, the central female figures are Justice and Divine Inspiration. Leaning on a sheathed sword representing her might, Justice faces to the viewer's right, staring down the forces
of Evil. The winged figure
of Divine Inspiration holds out the Scales
of Justice. Flanking these two figures are representations
of Wisdom, to the left, with an owl perched on his shoulder, and Truth, to the right, holding a mirror and a rose.
Nebraska Territorial Centenary, issued on May 7, 1954, Scott No. 1060.
"The Sower," by American architectural sculptor Lee Oscar Lawrie (1877-1963), a 19.5 feet (5.94 m) tall statue, perched atop a 13 foot-tall base, on top
of the golden Nebraska state capitol dome, 400 feet above the ground. The statue can be seen for nearly 20 miles.
Posted 07/03/2011 05:55 am
