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From Craftsman to Artist:
At 19, Saint-Gaudens became one of the first American sculptors to be accepted to the prestigious Ecole des Beaux-Arts in Paris, where he was exposed to a new approach to sculpture. Rather than creating idealized figures, this new style focused on portraying realistic human forms. He took this style with him to Rome in 1870, where he joined a studio frequented by wealthy Americans on "Grand Tours" of Europe and developed a network of influential patrons.
Left: Saint-Gaudens (center) on a hiking trip in Naples, 1871. |