2020-06-01_The_Artists_Magazine

96 Artists Magazine June 2020

Lasting impression

The admiration of Thomas Eakin [American,1844–1916]

for neoclassicalsculptorWilliamRushis onfulldisplayinthis historical

painting. Eakins—whotaughtatthePennsylvaniaAcademyofthe Fine Arts,

of which Rushhadbeena founder—believedhistributewould restore the

sculptor’s nametoprominenceinthehistoryofAmericanart. Also notable

here is Eakins’preoccupationwiththestudyofanatomyfromnude models.

It’s unlikely thatthemodel,MissVanuxem,wouldhaveposed naked. Note

that Rush, picturedinthebackground,is workingonthekneeof a fully draped

sculpture. Eakinsrecreatedtheinteriorwithappropriatecostumes and

artifacts yet—byshowingthemodelundressed—hedeviated from

realitytoimposehispersonalagendauponthecomposition.

MARIO ROBINSON

Artist and Author, Lessons in Realistic Watercolor

William Rush Carving His Allegorical Figure of the Schuylkill River, Study

by Thomas Eakins

1876-77; oil on canvas, mounted on composition board, 20x24

YALE UNIVERSITY ART GALLERY

COLLECTION OF MARY C. AND JAMES W. FOSBURGH, B.A. 1933, M.A. 1935