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Dr. David T. Iglehart (1835-1903), plaster, 1903
Fanny Iglehart commissioned Ney to create this bust of her recently deceased husband, a prominent Austin physician. With one photograph and recollected stories from the Igleharts’ daughter, Ney was able to complete the plaster in three days. The…
Sir Swante Palm (1815-1899), plaster, 1898-1899
Swante Palm was a Swedish-American diplomat and businessman who promoted Swedish settlement in Texas. He held a number of important positions in Austin, including postmaster and city councilman. Before his death he donated his extensive library to…
General Albert Sidney Johnston (1803-1862), plaster bust, 1901
The State of Texas commissioned Ney to create a monumental statuary piece of Albert Sidney Johnston for the Texas State Cemetery. The plan came about as early as the 1890s, but was not commissioned until 1901, and was fraught with difficulties. This…
Stephen Fuller Austin, bare chest (1793-1836), plaster, 1893 or 1903
Known as “The Father of Texas,” Stephen F. Austin brought the first 300 immigrant families to Texas to populate his settlement, the Austin Colony, in 1825; these families became known as the Old Three Hundred. In 1836, he was appointed by Sam…
Clasped Hands (Study for Lady Macbeth), 1899-1902
This study was one of many that Elisabet Ney executed while completing Lady Macbeth, in which she captures the Shakespearean character washing the metaphorical blood of King Duncan from her hands.
Skull (mass produced), n.d.
Plaster cast skull with missing teeth. It appears to have been used as a study aid for the artist, but there is no information regarding its origins. It looks to have a European stylization, but it may also be from her stay here in the United…
William Lambdin Prather (1848-1905), plaster, 1905-1906
As president of the University of Texas (1900-5), William Prather popularized the slogan “The eyes of Texas are upon you,” which became the title of the school’s official song. Prather’s death had an immense effect on Ney, who considered him “a dear,…
Stephen Fuller Austin, plaster, modeled 1893; cast 1902
During the summer of 1892, Ney set to work creating full-sized statues of Stephen F. Austin and Sam Houston to be displayed at the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago. Both Texans had passed away, so Ney was unable to sculpt from life as she…
Samuel Houston, plaster, modeled 1893; cast 1902
Perhaps one of Elisabet Ney's most celebrated Texas works, this sculpture of Sam Houston was originally commissioned by the Texas legislature to be displayed alongside Stephen F. Austin at the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago. In her…
William Polk Hardeman (1816-1898), plaster, 1893
Ney executed General Hardeman’s portrait bust during his term as the Texas Superintendent of Public Buildings and Grounds. Although she never discussed her motivation for creating this particular sculpture, Ney had previously written Hardeman to…
William Jennings Bryan (1860-1925), plaster, 1900
This bust depicts William Jennings Bryan, a popular orator and three-time presidential candidate. Bryan visited Austin in December 1899, as the guest of former governor James Hogg, whom he was considering as a running mate. Due to popular demand,…
General Albert Sidney Johnston (1803-1862), reclining, plaster, 1903-1904
The State of Texas commissioned Ney to create a monumental statuary piece of Albert Sidney Johnston for the Texas State Cemetery. The plan came about as early as the 1890s, but was not commissioned until 1901, and was fraught with difficulties. This…
Stephen Fuller Austin (1793-1836), wearing buckskin, plaster, 1898 or 1903
Known as “The Father of Texas,” Stephen F. Austin brought the first 300 immigrant families to Texas to populate his settlement, the Austin Colony, in 1825; these families became known as the Old Three Hundred. In 1836, he was appointed by Sam…
Samuel Houston as a young man (1793-1863), plaster, 1903
Sam Houston is a starring figure in the history of Texas. Houston’s defeat of the Mexican Army at San Jacinto resulted in Texan independence. He later served as President of the Republic of Texas, then U.S. senator. In 1861, he resigned his…
Samuel Houston, Elder Statesman (1793-1863), plaster, 1903
Sam Houston is a starring figure in the history of Texas. Houston’s defeat of the Mexican Army at San Jacinto resulted in Texan independence. He later served as President of the Republic of Texas, then U.S. senator. In 1861, he resigned his…
Ella Dancy Dibrell (1862-1920) plaster, 1900
This portrait medallion depicts Ney’s friend and supporter Ella Dancy Dibrell, who purchased Formosa at Ney’s death and was one of the founders of the Texas Fine Arts Association.
Benedette Tobin (1849-1901), plaster, 1893
Benedette Brace Tobin was one of Ney’s most committed Austin supporters. As president of the Ladies’ World’s Fair Association of the World’s Columbian Exposition, Tobin was instrumental in Ney’s receiving the commission for the statues of Sam…
Lorne Ney Montgomery (1873-1913), plaster, circa 1886
Ney made this bust portrait of her teenage son while she was still living at Liendo, not long before Lorne left for college in Baltimore. It was only the third or fourth work she had attempted after leaving Germany in 1871, and her only known…
Steiner Burleson (1892-1899), marble, modeled 1899, cut 1903-04
After Ney’s friends Albert and Adele Burleson lost their six-year-old son, Steiner, to spinal meningitis, Ney created this portrait medallion as an expression of her deep sympathy. The shell and seaweed forms which encircle the child were popular…
Lady Macbeth, plaster, 1902
One of Ney’s final works of art depicts the famous sleepwalking scene from Shakespeare’s tragic play, when Lady Macbeth, haunted by her role in the murder of King Duncan, wrings her hands and tries in vain to wash imaginary blood from them. The final…
Julius Runge (1851-1906), plaster, modeled 1887, this cast of Julius 1887
Julius Runge, the son of German immigrants, was a prominent merchant, financier, and public official based in Galveston. He was also The German Consul for the young state, and helped Ney acquire the Liendo Plantation in Hempstead. In 1887, she…
Johanna Runge (1856-1933), plaster, modeled 1887, this cast of Johanna 1900
Julius Runge, the son of German immigrants, was a prominent merchant, financier, and public official based in Galveston. He was also The German Consul for the young state, and helped Ney acquire the Liendo Plantation in Hempstead. In 1887, she…
Cast showing musculature of shoulder and arm (mass produced), n.d.
Arm Muscles, a manufactured plaster cast study showing muscles of the upper shoulder. The assumption held by the majority suggests this object was a study aid and not created by Ney herself.
Jacob Bickler (1849-1902), plaster, circa 1902
This bas-relief profile portrait commemorates Ney’s friend and neighbor Jacob Bickler, who established the Bickler Academy in 1892. In addition to collaborating on community projects with Bickler, Ney often planned special events at her studio for…
John Henninger Reagan (1818-1905), plaster, 1895
John Reagan served several terms in the U.S. House and Senate and also held posts with the Confederate States of America, including Postmaster General and Secretary of the Treasury. He was serving as chairman of the Railroad Commission of Texas when…