Documentary About the Renowned Sculptor and Coin Designer
(DURHAM, May 9, 2008) – The life and works of one of America’s greatest sculptors and most famous coin designer is the subject of the documentary Augustus Saint-Gaudens: Master of American Sculpture, which will air Sunday, May 18 @ 9 p.m. and Monday, May 19 @ 8 p.m. on New Hampshire Public Television. Historian David McCullough called the film “first rate,” noting that it is a beautifully composed, intelligent documentary that brings Saint-Gaudens center stage as one of the most gifted and powerful artists of our time.Although millions see Saint-Gaudens’ exquisitely carved cameos and heroic-size public monuments in museums and public places, few know the man behind the art. He influenced American cultural life through his sculpture and as a teacher and supporter of the arts. In 1905, Saint-Gaudens was commissioned by President Theodore Roosevelt to redesign the American coinage. The documentary covers Saint-Gaudens’ life from his birth in Ireland in 1848 through his rise in the art world. Saint-Gaudens National Historic Site in Cornish, NH (www.nps.gov/saga) opens to the public May 24. The site preserves Saint-Gaudens’ home, studios and gardens. It features over 100 of his artworks, from heroic public monuments to expressive portrait reliefs, and the gold coins which changed the look of American coinage.Augustus Saint-Gaudens: Master of American Sculpture airs on NHPTV Sunday, May 18 @ 9 p.m.; Monday, May 19 @ 8 p.m.; and Wednesday, May 21 @ 11 p.m.
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