Grizzly's Last Stand - Denver, CO - Figurative Public Sculpture on Waymarking.com

This piece was my childhood landmark I used to find the Denver Museum of Natural History. This imposing statue was to the left of the main entrance. When the citizens of the Denver-metro area passed a .5 sales tax to fund the Denver Scientific and Cultural District, the museum (renamed Denver Museum of Science and Nature) was renovated and enlarged, with the main entrance being moved from the west side to the north side. Now few see this sculpture. The plaque reads:

Grizzly's Last Stand
Donated by
John A. McGuire
1930

The artist was Louis Paul Jonas (1894-1971) studied art in Hungary as a young man. At the age of fourteen he emigrated to the United States and became an apprentice to his brother who was a taxidermist in Denver, Colorado. This early work as a taxidermist taught him a great deal about animal anatomy. His desire to become a sculptor was so strong that he moved to New York City and enrolled in the New York Academy of Design studying under the famous sculptor Herman Atkins MacNeil. He developed a strong friendship with MacNeil and later during the 1920's worked for MacNeil and Carl Akeley as a taxidermist at the American Museum of Natural History. Jonas' first public commission was awarded in 1930. His bronze monument of a giant Grizzly protecting her cubs titled Grizzly's Last Stand can be found in Denver's City Park.

Although Louis Jonas was not a prolific sculptor and very few of his works were ever cast in bronze because of the enormous cost of casting, his few sculptures in terra cotta and other mediums are prized for their accuracy and realistic form.

So far, I have not been able to find information about the donor of the piece, John A. McGuire.

Name or use 'Unknown' if not known: The Grizzly's Last Stand Figure Type: Animal Artist Name or use 'Unknown' if not known: Louis Paul Jonas Date created or placed or use 'Unknown' if not known: 1930 Materials used: Bronze Location: Denver Museum of Science and Nature

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Date Logged Log User Rating   04/03/2024 TABjuggler visited it 10/07/2015 animjason visited it 06/22/2012 Vante & Sammy Pants visited it 08/01/2010 condor1 visited it 09/13/2009 UnexpectedTwist visited it

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