character or sentiment that supplies the theme of his work. Now, given this natural gift, the reënforcement of it must come from the theme itself, from the degree to which it has laid hold of and possessed the sculptor’s imagination. And it is for this reason that, when he is executing American themes, the true environment for him is America. It ought to give him direct incentive, and, even if it does not, should at least save him from being enticed into a more specious attitude of mind. For I think one may note traces of this speciousness in the sculpture of Americans working in Paris; a _parti pris_ for the smaller elegancies of design as opposed to the salient and the large. On the other hand, the working upon American themes in the American environment can draw nothing out of the artist that is not in him; and this higher mastery over form and composition, being a gift of the gods, is necessarily rare. Perhaps only in a few American sculptors, as only rarely in other countries, will you discover it; while skill in modelling, elegance of design and a generally sensitive taste will be found more diffused through American sculpture than through that of any other country except France. The reason, unquestionably, is the peculiar aptitude of the American to impressions and his study in the best of modern schools. PUBLISHERS’ NOTE Thanks are due to the Sculptors, to the Century Company and to Charles Scribner’s Sons, whose assistance has made possible the inclusion of the illustrations in this edition. CONTENTS PAGE INTRODUCTION V I. AUGUSTUS SAINT-GAUDENS 1 II. GEORGE GREY BARNARD 19 III. JOHN QUINCY ADAMS WARD 37 IV. DANIEL CHESTER FRENCH 53 V. FREDERICK MACMONNIES 71 VI. PAUL WEYLAND BARTLETT 87 VII. HERBERT ADAMS 97 VIII. CHARLES HENRY NIEHAUS 117 IX. OLIN LEVI WARNER 129 X. SOLON HANNIBAL BORGLUM 147 XI. VICTOR DAVID BRENNER 163 XII. THE DECORATIVE MOTIVE 173 XIII. THE IDEAL MOTIVE 209 INDEX 233 LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS THE SHERMAN MONUMENT. BY AUGUSTUS SAINT-GAUDENS _Frontispiece_ FACING PAGE