Lee Lawrie, American Sculptor
Posted by Fr. Aquinas on 14 Feb 2009 at 02:52 pm | Tagged as: Miscellaneous
We may not remember his name, but his sculptures are recognizable around the country.
In the period before the Second World War, Lee Lawrie collaborated closely with architects Ralph Adams Cram and Bertram Goodhue. His works ornament some of their most famous designs, including the Cadet Chapel at West Point, St. Thomas Episcopal Church in New York City, the Nebraska State Capitol, the Los Angeles Public Library, and our own Church of St. Vincent Ferrer (pictured above). Later in his career, Lawrie won commissions for the US Capitol, the Louisiana State Capitol, the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, DC, and Rockefeller Center.
A Flickr page has been created to collect images of Lawrie’s work. It’s interesting to see the sculptures he produced for St. Vincent’s grouped together with his other and more recognizable creations.
How blessed we are at St. Vincent’s to enjoy the fruits of one of America’s most noted sculptors.
I visited your church photographing Lawrie’s work there around 2006. Your church is lovely. I’m happy to see your recognition of his work on your blog. His art is truly remarkable and is found from coast to coast.
Best Regards,
Greg Harm
Austin, Texas