Palmer, Erastus Dow, 1817-1904

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Sculptor.

From the description of Letter of Erastus Dow Palmer, 1896. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 79454830

Erastus Dow Palmer was a self-taught sculptor from the state of New York. He had only six months of formal schooling before being apprenticed as a carpenter. Palmer's talents were evident at a young age. When he was 9 he built his own sawmill, and at 17, he left his hometown, Pompey, NY, for Amsterdam, NY, where he worked as a carpenter, wood carver, and cabinet maker. In 1843, Palmer married Mary Jane Seaman and relocated to Utica. Shortly after his marriage, he made a cameo portrait of his wife, which led to his work as a cameo-cutter. Palmer produced approximately 200 of them in his first two years of work. In 1846, he moved to Albany and began his career as a sculptor, doing reliefs, primarily for churches, and busts. At an 1850 exhibit at the National Academy of Design, Palmer's work attracted a good deal of attention; as a result, he was made an honorary member. Notable sitters for his numerous busts included Washington Irving, Moses Taylor, Erastus Corning, and Governor Morgan. In 1873, Palmer went to Europe to study for a short time. In Paris, he began the bronze statue of Chancellor Robert R. Livingston that was commissioned by the state of New York and placed in the United States Capitol in 1874. Palmer died in Albany.

From the description of Letters and photos, 1856-1983, 1856-1880 (bulk dates). (Winterthur Library). WorldCat record id: 81906332

Sculptor; Albany, N.Y.

Was self-taught. Was an expert joiner, patternmaker, and cameo cutter as well.

From the description of Erastus Dow Palmer letter, 1868 March 10. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 122393949

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
referencedIn Palmer, Erastus Dow, 1817-1904 : [miscellaneous ephemeral material]. Metropolitan Museum of Art, Thomas J. Watson Library
creatorOf Willis, Nathaniel Parker, 1806-1867. N.P. Willis letters, poems, and carte-de-visite, 1831-1864. Pennsylvania State University Libraries
creatorOf Palmer, Erastus Dow. Artist file. Brooklyn Museum Libraries & Archives
referencedIn Correspondence, 1847-1900. New York State Historical Documents Inventory
creatorOf PALMER, ERASTUS DOW. Artist file : miscellaneous uncataloged material. Museum of Modern Art (MOMA)
creatorOf Alfred Williams Anthony papers Archives of American Art
referencedIn Autograph File, P, 1554-2005. Houghton Library
referencedIn Sumner, Charles, 1811-1874. Correspondence, 1829-1874 Houghton Library
creatorOf Palmer, Erastus Dow, 1817-1904. Letter of Erastus Dow Palmer, 1896. Library of Congress
creatorOf Avery family. Collection, 1891-1966 (bulk 1939-1940). Brooklyn Museum Libraries & Archives
creatorOf Alfred Stebbins autograph collection Archives of American Art
creatorOf Henry Kirke Brown papers Archives of American Art
creatorOf Stebbins, Alfred. Alfred Stebbins autograph collection, 1834-1872. Winterthur Library
referencedIn Stillman, William James, 1828-1901. Letters to William James Stillman and John Durand from artists, 1854-1861. Archives of American Art
creatorOf Palmer, Erastus Dow, 1817-1904. Letter : [Paris], to [Isabella Graham?] Gifford and Miss Pope, [1874?] Apr. 5. University of Chicago Library
creatorOf Palmer, Erastus Dow, 1817-1904. Letter : [Paris], to [Isabella Graham?] Gifford and Miss Pope, [1874?] Apr. 5. Texas Christian University
creatorOf Erastus Dow Palmer letter Archives of American Art
creatorOf Palmer, Erastus Dow, 1817-1904,. Autograph letter signed from E.D. Palmer, Albany, to William Winter [manuscript], 1882 April 9. Folger Shakespeare Library
referencedIn Thomas Bailey Aldrich papers, 1837-1926. Houghton Library
referencedIn Jervis McEntee papers Archives of American Art
creatorOf Durand, A. B. (Asher Brown), 1796-1886. Asher B. Durand papers, 1812-1886. New York Public Library System, NYPL
referencedIn Asher B. Durand papers, 1812-1886 New York Public Library. Manuscripts and Archives Division
creatorOf Edward Gay and Gay family papers Archives of American Art
creatorOf Palmer, Erastus Dow, 1817-1904. Letters and photos, 1856-1983, 1856-1880 (bulk dates). Winterthur Library
creatorOf Albert Duveen collection of artists' letters and ephemera Archives of American Art
creatorOf Jervis McEntee papers Archives of American Art
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
correspondedWith Aldrich, Thomas Bailey, 1836-1907 person
associatedWith Anthony, Alfred Williams, 1860-1939. person
associatedWith Avery family. family
associatedWith Brown, Henry Kirke, 1814-1886. person
associatedWith Church, Frederic Edwin, 1826-1900. person
associatedWith Duchochois & Klauser. corporateBody
associatedWith Durand, A. B. (Asher Brown), 1796-1886. person
associatedWith Duveen, Albert, person
associatedWith Gay, Edward, 1837-1928. person
associatedWith Gifford, Isabella Graham. person
associatedWith McEntee, Jervis, 1828-1891. person
associatedWith Morgan, Edwin Barber, 1806-1881. person
associatedWith Morgan, Henry. person
associatedWith Stebbins, Alfred. person
associatedWith Stillman, William James, 1828-1901. person
correspondedWith Sumner, Charles, 1811-1874 person
associatedWith Webster, J. Carson (James Carson), 1905- person
associatedWith Willis, Nathaniel Parker, 1806-1867. person
correspondedWith Winter, William, 1836-1917 person
associatedWith Young, Robert, 1927-2008, person
Place Name Admin Code Country
New York (State)
New York (State)
United States
Subject
Artists
Busts
Cameos
Picture frames and framing
Political activists
Portrait medallions
Sculptors
Sculpture
Sculpture, Modern
Occupation
Artists
Carpenters
Sculptors
Activity

Person

Birth 1817-04-02

Death 1904-03-09

Americans

Information

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SNAC ID: 4770696