Robert Merrell Gage (December 26, 1892 – October 30, 1981) was an American

sculptor Sculpture is the branch of the visual arts that operates in three dimensions. Sculpture is the three-dimensional art work which is physically presented in the dimensions of height, width and depth. It is one of the plastic arts. Durable sc ...

, frequently credited and better known as Merrell Gage.

Biography

Gage was born in

Topeka, Kansas Topeka ( ) is the capital city of the U.S. state of Kansas and the county seat of Shawnee County. It is along the Kansas River in the central part of Shawnee County, in northeastern Kansas, in the Central United States. As of the 2020 cen ...

and studied in the Topeka public schools and at

Washburn University Washburn University (WU), formally Washburn University of Topeka, is a public university in Topeka, Kansas, United States. It offers undergraduate and graduate programs as well as professional programs in law and business. The university enroll ...

. He worked on ranches in the Midwest before settling on an art career. He studied art in New York and France and worked in the studio of

Gutzon Borglum John Gutzon de la Mothe Borglum (March 25, 1867 – March 6, 1941) was an American sculpture, sculptor best known for his work on Mount Rushmore. He is also associated with various other public works of art across the U.S., including Stone Moun ...

as an assistant. In 1916, he set up a sculpture studio in a barn behind his house in Topeka. His first public commission was for a statue of

Abraham Lincoln Abraham Lincoln (February 12, 1809 – April 15, 1865) was the 16th president of the United States, serving from 1861 until Assassination of Abraham Lincoln, his assassination in 1865. He led the United States through the American Civil War ...

that is now on the grounds of the

Kansas State Capitol The Kansas State Capitol, known also as the Kansas Statehouse, is the building housing the executive and legislative branches of government for the U.S. state of Kansas. Located in the city of Topeka, which has served as the capital of Kansas si ...

. He married Marian Gage, a painter, shortly after

World War I World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...

when he was in the medical corps and lived in Kansas City.Stewart. Virginia, (1957, September 8). "An ability for interpretation" The Los Angeles Times, p. M22. Retrieved June 23, 2008 He began teaching sculpture at Washburn and at the

Kansas City Art Institute The Kansas City Art Institute (KCAI) is a private art school in Kansas City, Missouri. The college was founded in 1885 and is an accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design and Higher Learning Commission. The institute ...

. They moved to Los Angeles from New York in 1924 and built a studio in their home in the

Santa Monica Santa Monica (; Spanish language, Spanish: ''Santa Mónica'') is a city in Los Angeles County, California, Los Angeles County, situated along Santa Monica Bay on California's South Coast (California), South Coast. Santa Monica's 2020 United Sta ...

Canyon. He was appointed professor of sculpture at the

University of Southern California The University of Southern California (USC, SC, or Southern Cal) is a Private university, private research university in Los Angeles, California, United States. Founded in 1880 by Robert M. Widney, it is the oldest private research university in ...

and rose to the head of the department. Gage's mother and sister lived in

La Jolla, San Diego, California LA most frequently refers to Los Angeles, the second most populous city in the United States of America. La, LA, or L.A. may also refer to: Arts and entertainment Music * La (musical note), or A, the sixth note *"L.A.", a song by Elliott Smi ...

. His work was also part of the sculpture event in the art competition at the

1932 Summer Olympics The 1932 Summer Olympics (officially the Games of the X Olympiad and also known as Los Angeles 1932) were an international multi-sport event held from July 30 to August 14, 1932, in Los Angeles, California, United States. The Games were held du ...

Academy Award Winning Short Film

Gage executed likenesses of Lincoln in many stages of the president's life. In 1955 Gage starred in a short film '' The Face of Lincoln'', in which he modeled Lincoln's features while narrating the story of his life. The film, produced b
Wilber T. Blume
won an

Academy Award The Academy Awards, commonly known as the Oscars, are awards for artistic and technical merit in film. They are presented annually by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) in the United States in recognition of excellence ...

for Best Live Action Short Film. Gage executed numerous commissions in the Los Angeles area and served on the sculpture commission for the 1936 Olympics. His film The Face of Jesus was nominated for Academy Awards in 1962.

Works

* seated ''Lincoln'',

grounds, Topeka, Kansas (circa 1915) * ''American Legion Memorial'',

Kansas City, Missouri Kansas City, Missouri, abbreviated KC or KCMO, is the largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri by List of cities in Missouri, population and area. The city lies within Jackson County, Missouri, Jackson, Clay County, Missouri, Clay, and Pl ...

(1921) * ''Police Monument'', Kansas City, Missouri ( 1921) * ''

Electric Fountain The Electric Fountain is a water fountain with public art sculptures and evening lighting, surrounded by mosaic pavement, seating, and landscaping. It is located in Beverly Gardens Park on the corner of Santa Monica and Wilshire Boulevards in ...

'',

Beverly Hills Beverly Hills is a city located in Los Angeles County, California, United States. A notable and historic suburb of Los Angeles, it is located just southwest of the Hollywood Hills, approximately northwest of downtown Los Angeles. Beverly Hil ...

, California (1931) * the Edison Building,

Los Angeles, California Los Angeles, often referred to by its initials L.A., is the List of municipalities in California, most populous city in the U.S. state of California, and the commercial, Financial District, Los Angeles, financial, and Culture of Los Angeles, ...

, (1931) * Facade of the

Los Angeles Times Building Los Angeles Times Building refers to five buildings that have housed the ''Los Angeles Times'' offices since 1881. The fourth site, Times Mirror Square, is currently composed of four structures but in the absence of other specifics "Los Angeles Ti ...

, Los Angeles, California (1935) * ''Pioneer Mother Memorial'', Kansas State Capitol grounds, Topeka, Kansas (1937) * Allan J. Hancock Foundation,

, Los Angeles, California, (1940) * ''Bust of Sherman Minton'',

Indiana Statehouse The Indiana Statehouse is the state capitol building of the U.S. state of Indiana. It houses the Indiana General Assembly, the office of the Governor of Indiana, the Indiana Supreme Court, and other state officials. The Statehouse is located i ...

Indianapolis Indianapolis ( ), colloquially known as Indy, is the List of capitals in the United States, capital and List of municipalities in Indiana, most populous city of the U.S. state of Indiana and the county seat of Marion County, Indiana, Marion ...

, Indiana (1956) * ''Bust of Abraham Lincoln'', 110 Grand Avenue, Los Angeles, California (1961) * many schools and churches

References

External links

Merrell Gage papers, 1911–1982 at the Smithsonian's Archives of American Art
retrieved on 2008-07-05.

retrieved on 2008-07-05.
California Arts Club "13th CAC President" page
retrieved on 2008-07-05.

Missouri Remembers: Artists in Missouri through 1951
{{DEFAULTSORT:Gage, Robert Merrell 1892 births 1981 deaths American modern artists Artists from Topeka, Kansas Kansas City Art Institute alumni 20th-century American sculptors 20th-century American male artists American male sculptors Art competitors at the 1932 Summer Olympics