St. Nicholas' Club Memorial: Washington Irving

Henry Kirke Bush-Brown

1907 · Bronze · The American Wing

Bush-Brown attained recognition as a sculptor of public monuments, yet his facility with small-scale sculpture is evident in this medallion featuring a bust-length portrait of American writer and humorist Washington Irving (1783-1859). Irving’s tousled hair and downward fixed gaze suggest that the author of “Rip van Winkle” is deep in thought. In 1835 Irving helped establish the Saint Nicholas Society, an organization founded to preserve and celebrate the history and customs of New York. It commissioned this commemorative portrait from Bush-Brown.

Artist

Henry Kirke Bush-Brown

Date

1907

Medium

Bronze

Culture

American

Department

The American Wing

Credit line

Gift of the Saint Nicholas Society, 1908