John Frazee | |
---|---|
Born |
Rahway, New Jersey, United States |
July 18, 1790
Died | February 24, 1852 Crompton Mills, Rhode Island, United States |
(aged 61)
Nationality | American |
Known for | sculpture, architecture |
John Frazee (July 18, 1790 – February 24, 1852) was an American sculptor and architect. The Smithsonian has a collection of many of his sculptures as well as paintings of Frazee by other artists including Asher B. Durand and Henry Colton Shumway
He was born in Rahway, New Jersey, and worked in the Neo-Classic tradition. He is known as being one of the first successful native born American sculptors and "the first American born sculptor to execute a bust in marble." He is best known for his portrait busts, including of John Jay and Marquis De Lafayette. He carved sculptures for the Boston Athenaeum including of Chief Justice John Marshall and Daniel Webster. He also received a commission to design the New York Customs House, later used as Federal Hall National Memorial.
The sculptor Thomas Crawford began his career as a marble carver in Frazee's studio in New York City.
In 1826, he helped found the National Academy of Design.