Hermon Atkins MacNeil, “Moqui Belle Quang,” Plaster, c. Late 19th Early 20th Century

Sculpture

Depicts the neck and head of a young American Indian woman of the Moqui people with hair styled in an elaborate “squash blossom” design. The woman’s head is tilted back slightly, giving her a proud appearance. The expression on her face is stoic. The base of the sculpture is inscribed with Quang. The plaster form erodes below the neck into a series of irregular, near-horizontal depressions, which is somewhat suggestive of a robe.

9 x 6 x 11″

(1866-1947)

Hermon MacNeil was born in Massachusetts. He attended Massachusetts Normal Art School, graduating in 1886. After graduating, he taught at Cornell until 1888. He studied in Paris from 1888-1892.

Like many sculptors at the time, he was involved with the Columbian Exposition in 1893. MacNeil was not part of Taft’s team of sculptors. Instead, he contributed to the sculptures adorning the Electricity Building. He remained in Chicago after the Exposition and taught evening classes at the Art Institute. Between 1896 and 1900, he studied in Rome as a recipient of the Reinhart Scholarship. When he returned to the United States he opened up a studio in Long Island.