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Palmer, Erastus Dow

The Oxford Dictionary of Art | 2004 | | Copyright

Palmer, Erastus Dow (b Pompey, nr. Syracuse, NY, 2 Apr. 1817; d Albany, NY, 4 Mar. 1904). American sculptor. Self-taught, he rarely left Albany in his native New York State, and he was the most successful American sculptor of his period to work in the USA rather than in Europe. He began with cameo portraits and had a flourishing business with portrait busts and bas-reliefs on religious subjects, but his most celebrated work, now as in his own day, is the White Captive (1858, Met. Mus., New York). Inspired by Powers's Greek Slave, it shows a naked young girl who has been captured by Red Indians and is sustained by her Christianity—this accompanying storyline undoubtedly contributed to its popularity. The statue is fresher in observation than Powers's Greek Slave, for although the marble surfaces are impeccably smooth, the chubby proportions of the figure are unidealized and the strikingly characterized head is a portrait of Palmer's daughter. From the 1860s he worked increasingly in bronze.

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IAN CHILVERS. "Palmer, Erastus Dow." The Oxford Dictionary of Art. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. 30 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

IAN CHILVERS. "Palmer, Erastus Dow." The Oxford Dictionary of Art. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. (May 30, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O2-PalmerErastusDow.html

IAN CHILVERS. "Palmer, Erastus Dow." The Oxford Dictionary of Art. 2004. Retrieved May 30, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O2-PalmerErastusDow.html

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Palmer, Erastus Dow

The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Art and Artists | 2003 | | Copyright

Palmer, Erastus Dow (1817–1904). American sculptor. Self-taught, he rarely left Albany in his native New York State, and he was the most successful American sculptor of his period to work in the USA rather than in Europe. He began with cameo portraits and had a flourishing business with portrait busts and bas-reliefs on religious subjects, but his most celebrated work, now as in his own day, is the White Captive (1858, Met. Mus., New York). Inspired by Powers's Greek Slave, it shows a naked young girl who has been captured by Red Indians and is sustained by her Christianity—this accompanying storyline undoubtedly contributed to its popularity. The statue is fresher in observation than Powers's Greek Slave, for although the marble surfaces are impeccably smooth, the chubby proportions of the figure are unidealized and the strikingly characterized head is a portrait of Palmer's daughter. From the 1860s he worked increasingly in bronze.

Cite this article
Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography.

MLA
Chicago
APA

IAN CHILVERS. "Palmer, Erastus Dow." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Art and Artists. 2003. Encyclopedia.com. 30 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

IAN CHILVERS. "Palmer, Erastus Dow." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Art and Artists. 2003. Encyclopedia.com. (May 30, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O3-PalmerErastusDow.html

IAN CHILVERS. "Palmer, Erastus Dow." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Art and Artists. 2003. Retrieved May 30, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O3-PalmerErastusDow.html

Learn more about citation styles