Monument Man: The Life and Art of Daniel Chester French

by Harold Holzer

"It is a thing as rare as it is welcome—an authoritative book about a visual artist that is both well written and jargon free, and that seamlessly addresses a professional audience as well as the general reader."—The Wall Street Journal

The definitive biography of Daniel Chester French, the artist who created the statue for the Lincoln Memorial, John Harvard in Harvard Yard, and The Minute Man in Concord, Massachusetts. Daniel Chester French (1850–1931) is America's best-known sculptor of public monuments. Harold Holzer's authoritative biography combines rich personal details from French's life with a nuanced study of his artistic evolution and beautiful archival photographs of his life and work.

A fascinating life story written for readers interested in American art, sculpture, and history. Comprehensively researched and written in a lively, engaging manner, readers will be captivated by French's life work and story. His diligent dedication to perfecting his craft over many decades of hard work is an inspiring story of artistic evolution.

Written by an award-winning Abraham Lincoln scholar. A preeminent author of numerous books on Civil War-era art and history, Harold Holzer turns his eye to the development of an important American sculptor whose evolution ran parallel to, and deeply influenced, the development of American sculpture, iconography, and historical memory. "Magisterial.... Just as French was an apt sculptor for his famed subjects, we, as readers, are fortunate to have French's story told to us by Harold Holzer."—Concord Journal

Genres: Biography, Art, Nonfiction, History

368 pages, Hardcover

Published March 5, 2019

Reviews

[Brent Burch · Rating 4 out of 5]

A well written and highly researched biography of one of the U.S.'s foremost sculptors. If all you know of Daniel Chester French's work is the Lincoln Memorial, you will be pleasantly surprised at his other prolific works that are just as iconic. I would've liked for the text to be a bit bigger in this book, but otherwise it's a great read. Recommend.

[Stuart Endick · Rating 4 out of 5]

Harold Holzer, the dean of Lincoln historians, has written an engaging and comprehensive biography of Daniel Chester French, one of the leading American sculptors of the late Nineteenth and early Twentieth centuries who is best remembered for his iconic and imposing Lincoln Memorial seated president. But French was also the creator of numerous other important sculptures and contributions to public art at a time when that art form was perhaps more appreciated than today. Holzer’s biography weaves his subject’s life into the artistic and intellectual milieu of the time in a a way that will be appreciated by both casual and serious followers of history and art. I was a bit disappointed however that the author at one point seemed to conflate the noted landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted with his son, Frederick Law Olmsted, Jr. (perhaps just sloppy editing), and at another point advised that the Treasury Department remains to this day largely responsible for government buildings (today it is the General Services Administration). These are small nits in a valuable and enjoyable book, but nevertheless a bit jarring. The small font used for the hard cover edition also was rather hard on the eyes.

[David Kent · Rating 4 out of 5]

One thing is guaranteed; most readers had no idea how many important sculptures Daniel Chester French produced. In a delightful and informative book, Lincoln expert Harold Holzer brings us the life of the man who sculpted the iconic seated Lincoln statue that graces the Lincoln Memorial in Washington DC (not to mention the standing Lincoln statue in Lincoln, Nebraska).

[Mark Mortensen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having graduated from high school in Concord, Mass., I’m drawn to Concord history. Thoreau was of an older generation, but Ralph Waldo Emerson, the Alcott’s and others, roamed the small village with the lesser known acclaimed sculptor Daniel Chester French, who also called Concord his hometown and is buried in the town’s Sleepy Hollow Cemetery.

Early on French was labeled a “distant observer” and he transformed this gift of insight into art and sculpture. He sculptured the “Minute Man” statue at Concord’s Old North Bridge for the April 19, 1875 Revolutionary War Centennial Anniversary dedication of the “Shot Heard Round the World” and on May 20, 1922 he revealed his greatest achievement, the statue of the seated Abraham Lincoln at the Washington, D.C. Lincoln Memorial. In between the two historical dedications French’s life and accomplishments were so vast that the book captured my attention.

Author Harold Holzer was extremely professional with extensive research, footnotes, index and photos. I must also credit his publisher, Princeton Architectural Press, for using such high quality paper that appears waxed and is so rare today.

[JMM · Rating 5 out of 5]

As our culture reconsiders symbols of the past, Harold Holzer’s definitive biography of the artist Daniel Chester French feels timely. From French’s childhood years to his first major work (the iconic Minute Man in Concord, Massachusetts) through a career that included the Statue of the Republic for the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair and the creation of one of our nation’s most sacred monuments, The Lincoln Memorial, Holzer details the man, his work, and his era in an engrossing, beautifully written and thoroughly researched account.

[Michael Stoudt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Biography of Daniel Chester French

This is an interesting and good biography of the sculptor of the Lincoln statue at the Lincoln Memorial. Since I hadn't known about the sculptor of the Lincoln statue, I was interested in learning more about him. I learned a great deal about Mr. French and his vast body of work. I didn't realize how prolific he was. I am glad Mr. Holder has penned this biography.

[Linda Booth Sweeney · Rating 5 out of 5]

Who would have thought a biography about a quiet sculptor could be so entertaining? In Harold Holzer's capable hands, we not only learn about French's body of work but also about the historical context of the times through Holzer's extensive research and much-appreciated sense of humor. And yes, the type is small but very doable, especially with those $7 readers at CVS!

[Amber Spencer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow! Having seen, recently, so many of his works of art, it was amazing to read about them. I hope to see more of his great work in my life time.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I did not read the whole book. Thanks to my daughter for marking the sections about the Lincoln Memorial!