|
Melvin Earl Cummings
(1876-1936)
Melvin Earl Cummings was a sculptor born in Salt Lake City, Utah on August 13, 1876. As a teenager Cummings was apprenticed to a wood carver in decorating the Mormon Temple. After moving to San Francisco in 1896, he won a scholarship to the Mark Hopkins Institute of Art where he was a pupil of Douglas Tilden. His benefactress, Mrs. Phoebe Hearst enabled his further study in Paris with Mercie at Ecole des Beaux Arts. Returning to San Francisco, he exhibited regularly at the Bohemian Club while sharing a studio with his close friend and sculptor Arthur Putnam. He taught sculpture at the Mark Hopkins until 1915 and also was instructor of modeling at University of California Berkeley from 1904-16. He did numerous portrait busts, statues, and public monuments and served on the San Francisco Park Commission for 32 years. Cummings contributed greatly to local civic art and is considered San Francisco's premier sculptor.
Member: National Sculpture Society; San Francisco Art Association; California Palace of the Legion of Honor; Bohemian Club.
Works Held: Orange County Museum of Art; Sloat Monument, Monterey; and in San Francisco: bronze plaque on Lotta's Fountain, Market Street; Neptune's Daughter fountain and Adolph Spreckels bust; Pool of Enchantment, and sundial in front of De Young Museum; Golden Gate Park; La Soif in Washington Square; UC Berkeley: the sculptured panels on Sather Gate.
Source:
Hughes, Edan M. Artists In California 1786-1940. 3rd ed. Vol. 1. Sacramento: Crocker, Art Museum, 2002. N. pag. 2 vols. Print.
|
|
|
|
|
