Homer Schiff Saint-Gaudens

Black and white photograph of Homer Saint-Gaudens in his mid-twenties.

De Witt Clinton Ward

Quick Facts

Place of Birth:

Roxbury, Massachusetts

Date of Birth:

September 29, 1880

Place of Death:

Coconut Grove, FL

Date of Death:

September 8,1958

Place of Burial:

Cornish, NH

Cemetery Name:

The Temple, Saint-Gaudens National Historical Park

As the son of one of the most celebrated American sculptors, Homer Saint-Gaudens grew up immersed in the art industry. From a young age, he was witness to both the creative process and business dealings of art. Already respected for his last name, Homer Saint-Gaudens made his own mark on the arts in the United States.

After the death of Augustus Saint-Gaudens, Homer Saint-Gaudens helped craft and cultivate the legacy of his father. He edited and amplified his father’s autobiography for publication in 1913. Along with his mother and others, he was a founder of the Saint-Gaudens Memorial in 1919. The organization maintained the family’s estate in Cornish, New Hampshire to collect, preserve, and display the esteemed artwork of his father. Homer Saint-Gaudens served as its director until 1953.

After attending Harvard College, Homer Saint-Gaudens became a writer, art critic, and theatrical manager. In 1922, he began serving as the director of the Carnegie Institute. He is most recognized for his contributions to the American modern art scene through the development of the museum’s international annual exhibitions.

Serving the military in World War I, Homer Saint-Gaudens was eventually promoted to Captain and placed in charge of the Camouflage Section in the Second Army. He was joined by several other aesthetic-minded people in the development and implementation of this means of concealment.  He returned to military service in World War II where he continued developing effective camouflage for domestic and military purposes. He ultimately achieved the rank of Colonel, received the Bronze Star, and was decorated by France and other nations.

In 1905, he married Carlota Dolley, a student at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts and later a painter of miniatures. They had three children: Augustus, Carlota, and Harold. Carlota Saint-Gaudens died in 1927 and Homer Saint-Gaudens married Mary Louise McBride two years later. Homer died in 1958 and is interred with members of his family at Temple on the grounds of Saint-Gaudens National Historical Park in Cornish, New Hampshire.