Elbert Weinberg
Encyclopedia
Elbert Weinberg was an American sculptor.
He was born in Hartford, Connecticut
. Displaying an early interest in art, he enrolled at the Hartford Art School at night while attending Weaver High School. After two years he transferred to the Rhode Island School of Design
. At the young age of 23, he was awarded the prestigious Prix de Rome
, which allowed him to perform further art study in Italy. Upon returning to the U.S., he became a teacher at the Yale School of Design. There he produced a wood carving that caught the eye of a trustee from the Museum of Modern Art
, and this sculpture was shown on the cover of Art in America
.
In 1959, he was awarded a Guggenheim Fellowship
and he decided to return to Rome, where he remained for the next eleven years. Returning to the U.S., he taught sculpting at Dartmouth College
, Boston University
, Temple University
(while in Rome) and Union College
. He became Professor of Sculpture at Boston University
in 1983.
His early works were influenced by themes of mythology, religion and the Holocaust. They have been displayed at multiple museums, including the New York Museum of Modern Art
, the Boston Museum of
Fine Arts
and the Wadsworth Atheneum
in his home town of Hartford. Among his most acclaimed works are the Joie de Danse in the Portman San Francisco hotel and the 1980 Holocaust Memorial at Freedom Plaza in Wilmington, Delaware
. His work Procession was displayed at the Jewish Museum of New York
, Jacob Wrestling with the Angel was shown at Brandeis University
, the Procession 2 at Beth El Temple in West Hartford, and Justice at the Boston University School of Law
.
Despite being widely recognized as a talented sculptor, Elbert Weinberg never attained financial success during his lifetime, in part he did not prefer the abstract form of sculpture that sold more readily during this period. He died of myelofibrosis
and was survived by his daughter Julia and mother Rose Apter Weinberg. The Elbert Weinberg Prize was established in his memory out of a trust fund set up in his name.
He was born in Hartford, Connecticut
Hartford, Connecticut
Hartford is the capital of the U.S. state of Connecticut. The seat of Hartford County until Connecticut disbanded county government in 1960, it is the second most populous city on New England's largest river, the Connecticut River. As of the 2010 Census, Hartford's population was 124,775, making...
. Displaying an early interest in art, he enrolled at the Hartford Art School at night while attending Weaver High School. After two years he transferred to the Rhode Island School of Design
Rhode Island School of Design
Rhode Island School of Design is a fine arts and design college located in Providence, Rhode Island. It was founded in 1877. Located at the base of College Hill, the RISD campus is contiguous with the Brown University campus. The two institutions share social, academic, and community resources and...
. At the young age of 23, he was awarded the prestigious Prix de Rome
Prix de Rome
The Prix de Rome was a scholarship for arts students, principally of painting, sculpture, and architecture. It was created, initially for painters and sculptors, in 1663 in France during the reign of Louis XIV. It was an annual bursary for promising artists having proved their talents by...
, which allowed him to perform further art study in Italy. Upon returning to the U.S., he became a teacher at the Yale School of Design. There he produced a wood carving that caught the eye of a trustee from the Museum of Modern Art
Museum of Modern Art
The Museum of Modern Art is an art museum in Midtown Manhattan in New York City, on 53rd Street, between Fifth and Sixth Avenues. It has been important in developing and collecting modernist art, and is often identified as the most influential museum of modern art in the world...
, and this sculpture was shown on the cover of Art in America
Art in America
Art in America is an illustrated monthly, international magazine concentrating on the contemporary art world, including profiles of artists and genres, updates about art movements, show reviews and event schedules. It is designed for collectors, artists, dealers, art professionals and other...
.
In 1959, he was awarded a Guggenheim Fellowship
Guggenheim Fellowship
Guggenheim Fellowships are American grants that have been awarded annually since 1925 by the John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation to those "who have demonstrated exceptional capacity for productive scholarship or exceptional creative ability in the arts." Each year, the foundation makes...
and he decided to return to Rome, where he remained for the next eleven years. Returning to the U.S., he taught sculpting at Dartmouth College
Dartmouth College
Dartmouth College is a private, Ivy League university in Hanover, New Hampshire, United States. The institution comprises a liberal arts college, Dartmouth Medical School, Thayer School of Engineering, and the Tuck School of Business, as well as 19 graduate programs in the arts and sciences...
, Boston University
Boston University
Boston University is a private research university located in Boston, Massachusetts. With more than 4,000 faculty members and more than 31,000 students, Boston University is one of the largest private universities in the United States and one of Boston's largest employers...
, Temple University
Temple University
Temple University is a comprehensive public research university in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Originally founded in 1884 by Dr. Russell Conwell, Temple University is among the nation's largest providers of professional education and prepares the largest body of professional...
(while in Rome) and Union College
Union College
Union College is a private, non-denominational liberal arts college located in Schenectady, New York, United States. Founded in 1795, it was the first institution of higher learning chartered by the New York State Board of Regents. In the 19th century, it became the "Mother of Fraternities", as...
. He became Professor of Sculpture at Boston University
Boston University
Boston University is a private research university located in Boston, Massachusetts. With more than 4,000 faculty members and more than 31,000 students, Boston University is one of the largest private universities in the United States and one of Boston's largest employers...
in 1983.
His early works were influenced by themes of mythology, religion and the Holocaust. They have been displayed at multiple museums, including the New York Museum of Modern Art
Museum of Modern Art
The Museum of Modern Art is an art museum in Midtown Manhattan in New York City, on 53rd Street, between Fifth and Sixth Avenues. It has been important in developing and collecting modernist art, and is often identified as the most influential museum of modern art in the world...
, the Boston Museum of
Fine Arts
Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
The Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, Massachusetts, is one of the largest museums in the United States, attracting over one million visitors a year. It contains over 450,000 works of art, making it one of the most comprehensive collections in the Americas...
and the Wadsworth Atheneum
Wadsworth Atheneum
The Wadsworth Atheneum is the oldest public art museum in the United States, with significant holdings of French and American Impressionist paintings, Hudson River School landscapes, modernist masterpieces and contemporary works, as well as extensive holdings in early American furniture and...
in his home town of Hartford. Among his most acclaimed works are the Joie de Danse in the Portman San Francisco hotel and the 1980 Holocaust Memorial at Freedom Plaza in Wilmington, Delaware
Wilmington, Delaware
Wilmington is the largest city in the state of Delaware, United States, and is located at the confluence of the Christina River and Brandywine Creek, near where the Christina flows into the Delaware River. It is the county seat of New Castle County and one of the major cities in the Delaware Valley...
. His work Procession was displayed at the Jewish Museum of New York
Jewish Museum (New York)
The Jewish Museum of New York, an art museum and repository of cultural artifacts, is the leading Jewish museum in the United States. With over 26,000 objects, it contains the largest collection of art and Jewish culture outside of museums in Israel. The museum is housed at 1109 Fifth Avenue, in...
, Jacob Wrestling with the Angel was shown at Brandeis University
Brandeis University
Brandeis University is an American private research university with a liberal arts focus. It is located in the southwestern corner of Waltham, Massachusetts, nine miles west of Boston. The University has an enrollment of approximately 3,200 undergraduate and 2,100 graduate students. In 2011, it...
, the Procession 2 at Beth El Temple in West Hartford, and Justice at the Boston University School of Law
Boston University School of Law
Boston University School of Law is the law school affiliated with Boston University, and is ranked #22 among American law schools by US News and World Report magazine. It is the second-oldest law school in Massachusetts and one of the first law schools in the country to admit students regardless...
.
Despite being widely recognized as a talented sculptor, Elbert Weinberg never attained financial success during his lifetime, in part he did not prefer the abstract form of sculpture that sold more readily during this period. He died of myelofibrosis
Myelofibrosis
Myelofibrosis, also known as myeloid metaplasia, chronic idiopathic myelofibrosis, osteomyelofibrosis and primary myelofibrosis is a disorder of the bone marrow...
and was survived by his daughter Julia and mother Rose Apter Weinberg. The Elbert Weinberg Prize was established in his memory out of a trust fund set up in his name.
Awards
- Prix de Rome, 1951
- Award for Achievement in the Arts, Yale University, 1959
- Guggenheim Foundation Award, 1960
- American Academy of Arts and Letters Sculpture Award, 1968
- Elizabeth H. Watrous Gold Medal for Sculpture, 1989, National Academy of Design
- Lifetime Achievement in Sculpture, Alex Ettl Grant, 1991, National Sculpture Society