John Insley Blair 1883 - 1898

Olin Levi Warner created this bronze sculpture of John Insley Blair. Bronze is a material closely associated with commemoration, a metal with connotations of permanence. Blair, a railroad magnate, certainly had the resources to commission such a portrait. The lost-wax casting process used to create it, is a highly skilled endeavor, involving many hands. The sculpture's dark patina and the meticulous modeling of Blair's features give it a sense of gravitas. Note the texture of the bronze, which retains the marks of the artist's hand. Although the final bronze appears seamless, it was likely cast in multiple sections, then carefully joined and finished. The act of modeling and casting in bronze speaks to a specific social context, where wealth and influence were often immortalized through such artistic endeavors. Paying attention to the material and process helps us understand the social dynamics at play in this work, blurring the lines between fine art and craft.