Paul Howard Manship (1885 - 1966)

Paul Howard Manship

Paul Howard Manship was an American sculptor born in St Paul, Minnesota. He is best known for his work that combines classical mythology and animal forms, often with clean, smooth lines and a contemporary artistic sensibility.

Manship studied at the Artists' League of New York and the American Academy in Rome, where he was deeply influenced by ancient Greek and Roman art. He received international acclaim for his sculpture Prometheus, which was exhibited at Rockefeller Center in New York. This work includes a bronze figure of Prometheus, the mythical Greek god who brought fire to men, surrounded by a fountain.

Other notable works by Manship include The Flight of Europa, Diana and Actaeon and The Celestial Sphere in Memory of Woodrow Wilson. His style evolved over time, starting with more realistic and detailed works and then becoming more stylised and sleeker.

Manship received many honours and awards during his career, including the National Medal of Arts in 1964. His work is in the collections of many museums, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Whitney in New York.

Manship died in New York in 1966 at the age of 80.