William Rush

William Rush 1756-1833, American sculptor, one of the earliest in the country, b. Philadelphia. His wood carvings, clay models, and figureheads were famous in their day. Of his other works, carved in wood, the statue of George Washington is in Independence Hall in Philadelphia, and a bronze replica of his graceful Spirit of the Schuylkill (1812) is in Fairmount Park in Philadelphia. Thomas Eakins painted Rush at work on this figure (1877; Philadelphia Mus. of Art). Rush was a leader in founding the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, which owns many of his works including a plaster cast of a vigorous self-portrait. He also did portraits of Joseph Wright, Samuel Morris, Washington, Lafayette, and others. The Philadelphia Museum of Art contains some of his sprightly allegorical figures, among them Comedy and Tragedy.

Bibliography: See catalog by H. Marceau (1937).

Rush, William (1756–1833). American sculptor, active in his native Philadelphia. His father was a ship's carpenter and Rush worked mainly in wood, progressing from ships' figureheads to free-standing figures, such as those of Comedy and Tragedy (1808) for the new Chestnut Street Theater, Philadelphia (now the Forrest Home for Aged Actors). His work is vigorous and naturalistic and he marks the transition from the unselfconscious folk carver to the professional artist. He was one of the prime movers in the foundation of the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts (1805), which has many examples of his work. Thomas Eakins, another native of Philadelphia, greatly admired Rush's work.

Rush, William (b Philadelphia, 4 July 1756; d Philadelphia, 17 Jan. 1833). American sculptor, active in his native Philadelphia. His father was a ship's carpenter and Rush worked mainly in wood, progressing from ships' figureheads to free-standing figures, such as those of Comedy and Tragedy (1808) for the new Chestnut Street Theater, Philadelphia (now the Forrest Home for Aged Actors). His work is vigorous and naturalistic and he marks the transition from the unselfconscious folk carver to the professional artist. He was one of the prime movers in the foundation of the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts (1805), which has many examples of his work. Thomas Eakins, another native of Philadelphia, greatly admired Rush's work.