Wagner Bust - Tower Grove Park - St. Louis, MO - Smithsonian Art Inventory Sculptures on Waymarking.com

County of art: St. Louis Independent City
Location of art: Northeast Dr., music pavilion circle, Tower Grove Park, St. Louis
Artist: Unknown
Replica of: Ferdinand von Miller, II, 1842-1929, sculptor. (copy after)
Architect: George Ingham Barnett, 1815-1898

Proper Description: "Bust of Wagner featuring a gilded inscription on its plinth. Bust rests on a pedestal consisting of a limestone capital atop a polished Missouri red granite column on a limestone base." ~ Smithsonian American Art Museum

Remarks: "This bust is a replacement of the original marble bust that was commissioned by Henry Shaw and made in 1884 by Ferdinand von Miller (see IAS 76001106). Shaw funded the original at a cost of $725. This replacement bust sits on the original pedestal, which was designed by George Ingham Barnett." ~ Smithsonian American Art Museum

"Kretschmar began carving at fifteen and continued while working as a bookkeeper. After four years of study abroad, he became the first professor of sculpture at Washington University. In later life, he changed careers, studied osteopathy, and practiced outside of Chicago." ~ rac.stl.org-public art

"Henry Shaw wanted fine music and works of art in his Tower Grove Park, so he hired architects to build cupola-covered bandstands and commissioned artists to produce sculptures, including marble busts of his favorite composers–Mozart, Rossini, Wagner, Beethoven, Gounod and Verdi. Busts of Sullivan and Donizetti were planned for the last two pedestals, but Shaw passed away before they could be produced, so simple marble spheres took their place. Beginning in 1873, Shaw provided free Sunday concerts during summer months, featuring at least one piece by one of the composers represented on the busts." ~ rac.stl.org-public art