Accession Number2017/2.2
TitleMildred and William Dean Howells
Artist(s)Augustus Saint-GaudensArtist NationalityAmerican (North American)Object Creation Date1897, cast in 1898Medium & SupportbronzeDimensions 18 ½ in x 21 ½ in (46.99 cm x 54.61 cm);8 ¼ in x 13 in (20.96 cm x 33.02 cm)
Credit LineGift of John H. Dryfhout (Rackham, 1966) in honor of the University's 200th AnniversaryLabel copyThis sculpture speaks to the cultural and social awareness that arose in reaction to the unbridled economic development of the so-called Gilded Age of the late nineteenth century. It celebrates William Dean Howells (1837-1920), a literary figure who explored issues considered taboo at the time, including class struggle, racial and labor inequality, and divorce. Often referred to as the "Dean of American Letters," Howells was a strong proponent of realism, as opposed to romanticism, in American literature. As the editor of
Atlantic Monthly (1871-81), he publlished fellow realists, such as Mark Twain and Henry James. Here he is shown reading a manuscript while sitting across from his daughter, Mildred, a poet and artist who illustrated and edited some of his writing. The sculpture is a bronze reduction relief, meaning it is a smaller and more affordable version of a larger work.
Physical DescriptionA reduction featuring the raised image of a woman and man sitting at a table. The woman leans on the table and the man reads a paper.
Primary Object Classification Sculpture Primary Object TypereliefCollection AreaWesternRightsIf you are interested in using an image for a publication, please visit
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