Artist Biography
Alexander Phimister Proctor (American, 1860-1950)
These models, all executed early in Proctor’s career, between 1892 and 1902 and cast in bronze, offer a spectrum of the artist’s talent for rendering an animal in a highly naturalistic way. The power and trumpeting fury of the enraged behemoth in contrast with the delicate, vulnerable young deer, to the highly bred and regal equestrian; Proctor was directly familiar with all.
As a young man in his mountain home of Colorado, Proctor was recognized as an accomplished outdoorsman, hunter and packer. In his second year as a student in New York City, he frequently modeled at the New York Zoo where he encountered exotic animals not previously familiar to him. After working with Augustus Saint-Guadens on the Sherman and Logan equestrian monuments, owners with stables began requesting commission models of their favorite mounts. Arab Stallion is one such commission.
Proctor quickly rose to prominence through his contribution of over thirty-five animal and equestrian sculptures exhibited at the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago. He studied at the National Academy of Design and the Art Students League in New York, as well as the Academie Julian in Paris. He also exhibited at the Paris Salon, and at the Exposition Universelle of 1900 was awarded gold medals for “Indian Warrior” and “Stalking Panther”.
During his long and prominent career, Proctor was awarded numerous monumental public commissions throughout the country, among them: Equestrian model, General John A. Logan monument, Grant Park, Chicago, Equestrian model, General William T. Sherman monument, Grand Army Plaza, New York, Lions, The Lion House, The Bronx Zoo, Pair of Pumas, Prospect Park, New York, Princeton Tigers, Nassau Hall, Princeton University, New Jersey, Q Street Bridge Buffalo’s, Washington D.C., Bronco Buster and On The War Trail, Civic Center, Denver, Colorado, Monument to the Mustangs, University of Texas at Austin.
