Hermon Atkins MacNeil (1866-1947) was an American sculptor born at Chelsea, Massachusetts.

He was an instructor in industrial art at Cornell University from 1886 to 1889, and was then a pupil of Henri M. Chapu and Alexandre Falguière in Paris. Returning to America, he aided Philip Martiny (1858-1927) in the preparation of sketch models for the World's Columbian Exposition, and in 1896 he won the Rinehart scholarship, passing four years (1896-1900) in Rome.

In 1906 he became a National Academician. His first important work was The Moqui Runner, which was followed by A Primitive Chant, and The Sun Vow, all figures of the North American Indian. A Fountain of Liberty, for the Louisiana Purchase Exposition, and other Indian themes came later; his Agnese and his Beatrice, which are two fine busts of women, and his nude statuettes, which echo his time spent in Rome and Paris, also deserve mention. One of his principal works is the sculpture in Columbus, Ohio, in honor of President William McKinley. In 1909 he won in competition a commission for a large soldiers' and sailors' monument in Albany, New York.

Perhaps his best known work is as the designer of the Standing Liberty quarter, which as minted from 1916 to 1930, and carries his initial to the right of the date.

He also made Justice, the Guardian of Liberty on the east pediment of the United States Supreme Court building

One of his last works was the Pony Express statue dedicated in 1940 in St. Joseph, Missouri.

His wife, Carol Brooks MacNeil, also a sculptor of distinction, was a pupil of Frederick William MacMonnies and a member of the White Rabbits.

Images

File:Pony-express-statue.jpg|Pony Express statue in St. Joseph, MissouriFile:HMcNeil-GRClark.jpg|George Rogers Clark Memorial, Vincennes, IndianaFile:HAM1.jpg|Civil War Monument, Philadelphia, 1921File:HAM2.jpg|Civil War Monument, carved by the Piccirilli BrothersFile:The Sun Vow 01.jpg|The Sun Vow, Bronze, Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York CityFile:US Supreme Court (35650678).jpg|Justice, the Guardian of Liberty on the east pediment of the United States Supreme Court building, Washington, D.C.File:Pdx washpark whitemancoming nne.jpeg|Coming of White Man, in Portland's Washington Park has Chief Multnomah observing the Oregon Trail, completed 1904Image:HermonAtkinsMacNeilnudestatuette.jpg|Untitled Nude; 1900; Bronze statuette

References

External links

• The Sun Vow
• The Moqui Runner