American, 1897 - 1981
Amateis's father, Louis, a sculptor and architect, was professor of fine arts at Columbian University in Washington, D. C., and a founder of the School of Architecture when that institution became George Washington University. Edmond was born abroad because the family was temporarily resident in Rome for Louis to work on a monument to Texas Civil War heroes for the city of Galveston.
Amateis received his early education in Washington. After his father's death in 1913, he pursued his studies in New York, at the Beaux-Arts Institute of Design, and at the Academy School for the one year, 1916/17. He served in the United States Army during World War I and, in 1919, studied at the Acad‚mie Julian in Paris under Jean Boucher and Paul Landowski. He then returned to New York, studying at the Beaux-Arts, and working in the studios of Henry Shrady and John Gregory and at the Roman Bronze Works. In 1921, he won a fellowship to the American Academy in Rome where he studied until 1924. While there, he was greatly influenced by both the classical style and subject themes of the works of the Italian Renaissance.
After his return to the United States, he opened a studio in New York and, having gained some notice with an exhibition of his works at the Ferargil Galleries in 1926, soon received several important architectural commissions. War Horses for the Baltimore War Memorial, and pedimental decoration for the Buffalo Historical Society. Among Amateis's most well-known pieces are the three large groups from American folklore done for the New York World's Fair of 1939-40: Paul Bunyan, Johnny Appleseed and Strap Buckner.
Amateis was a member of the National Sculpture Society, and was its president from 1942 to 1944. His work was first included in an Academy exhibition 1917, and he continued to be represented in these show into the 1970s.
Amateis received his early education in Washington. After his father's death in 1913, he pursued his studies in New York, at the Beaux-Arts Institute of Design, and at the Academy School for the one year, 1916/17. He served in the United States Army during World War I and, in 1919, studied at the Acad‚mie Julian in Paris under Jean Boucher and Paul Landowski. He then returned to New York, studying at the Beaux-Arts, and working in the studios of Henry Shrady and John Gregory and at the Roman Bronze Works. In 1921, he won a fellowship to the American Academy in Rome where he studied until 1924. While there, he was greatly influenced by both the classical style and subject themes of the works of the Italian Renaissance.
After his return to the United States, he opened a studio in New York and, having gained some notice with an exhibition of his works at the Ferargil Galleries in 1926, soon received several important architectural commissions. War Horses for the Baltimore War Memorial, and pedimental decoration for the Buffalo Historical Society. Among Amateis's most well-known pieces are the three large groups from American folklore done for the New York World's Fair of 1939-40: Paul Bunyan, Johnny Appleseed and Strap Buckner.
Amateis was a member of the National Sculpture Society, and was its president from 1942 to 1944. His work was first included in an Academy exhibition 1917, and he continued to be represented in these show into the 1970s.
