The artist responsible for carving the Stone Mountain sculpture was Gutzon Borglum. He was the first artist hired for this monumental project, which aimed to create a massive sculpture on Stone Mountain in Georgia, USA.
Gutzon Borglum is widely recognized for his most famous work, the carving of four U.S. presidents into South Dakota’s Mount Rushmore. However, before his involvement in that iconic project, he played a crucial role in the early stages of the Stone Mountain sculpture.
Borglum was born in 1867 in Idaho Territory, and he developed a passion for art from a young age. He studied painting and sculpture in Paris and gained recognition for his talent and skill. In 1915, he was approached by the United Daughters of the Confederacy (UDC) to create a sculpture on Stone Mountain that would honor Confederate heroes.
The Stone Mountain project aimed to depict Confederate President Jefferson Davis, General Robert E. Lee, and General Thomas J. “Stonewall” Jackson on horseback. Borglum began working on the sculpture in 1915 and spent several years developing models and plans for the massive undertaking.
However, due to various issues, including disagreements over the artistic direction and funding challenges, Borglum’s involvement with the Stone Mountain project came to an end in 1925. He left the project and went on to work on other notable sculptures, including Mount Rushmore.
After Borglum’s departure, the Stone Mountain sculpture was taken over by Augustus Lukeman, another renowned sculptor of the time. Lukeman made some modifications to Borglum’s initial design, but ultimately, the Stone Mountain project faced numerous setbacks and was not completed until many years later.
It is important to note that the Stone Mountain sculpture has been a subject of controversy due to its association with the Confederacy and its depiction of Confederate leaders. Over the years, there have been debates and discussions about the appropriateness of such a monument, considering the historical context and the legacy of slavery in the United States.
Gutzon Borglum was the first artist hired for the Stone Mountain sculpture. Though his involvement with the project was eventually cut short, his contribution to the early stages of planning and design was significant. The completion of the sculpture was later undertaken by Augustus Lukeman, but the project remains a contentious symbol due to its connection with the Confederacy.