OPEN TODAY: 10 A.M.–5 P.M.

Tickets

Sculpture

Fancy

Type
Sculpture(Opens in new tab)
Date
1923
Accession number
2003.11
Maker
John Gregory(Opens in new tab) (American, 1879–1958)
Dimensions
overall: 13 3/4 x 8 x 9 in. (34.9 x 20.3 x 22.9 cm.)
Medium
white marble on original black marble socle
Description
John Gregory was born in England and came to the United States at the age of fourteen. In 1912, he became an American citizen, then spent three years at the American Academy in Rome. Upon his return to the United States in 1915, Gregory settled in New York City where he lived for the rest of his life. Like many other sculptors who worked at the American Academy, Gregory interpreted classical and literary themes in a style that he termed the "Playful Classic." In addition to his interest in Greek, Egyptian, and West Asian forms, Gregory was clearly inspired by the Symbolist fascination with the enigmatic female countenance. This combination of classical subjects and modernist aesthetics resulted in a conservative modernism that is also characteristic of the work by Gregory's contemporaries Jo Davidson and Paul Manship on view in this gallery. While Gregory won success in the 1920s for independent figures and lyrical, idealized heads such as Fancy, he was best known for his larger commissioned projects including nine panels for the façade of the Folger Shakespeare Library in Washington, D.C. Here at the Huntington, Gregory created the cycle of relief sculptures depicting the four seasons and the four ages of man for The Huntington Mausoleum, completed in 1929. One of the most distinguished buildings on the grounds, The Huntington Mausoleum is the only building in southern California by the noted architect John Russell Pope. Arabella Huntington chose the hill overlooking the estate's orange groves as the site for the Mausoleum, and Henry Huntington was responsible for conceiving its design. The Huntingtons' dealer Joseph Duveen suggested Pope as the architect for the job and Pope, in turn, recommended Gregory as the sculptor. The complementary nature of the sculpture and architecture was especially pleasing to Pope, who went on to use the Mausoleum as the prototype for his design of the Thomas Jefferson Memorial in Washington, D.C.
Credit
The Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens. Purchased with a gift from Steve Martin and funds from the Connie Perkins Endowment.
Department
American Art
Find out more
View in the Art Museum catalog(Opens in new tab)
Like many sculptors who worked at the American Academy in Rome, Gregory combined classical subjects with modernist aesthetics to produce a style that he termed the "Playful Classic." In addition to his interest in Greek, Egyptian, and West Asian forms, Gregory was inspired by the Symbolist fascination with the enigmatic female countenance. Gregory's conservative modernism is also characteristic of sculptures by his contemporaries Jo Davidson and Paul Manship.

John Gregory was born in England and came to the United States at the age of fourteen. Upon returning to the United States from Rome in 1915, he settled in New York City. Here at the Huntington, Gregory created the relief sculptures for The Huntington Mausoleum, completed in 1929.

You might also be interested in