A foreign sculptor living in New York, Isidore Konti has steadily risen in the excellence of his work until to-day he stands among the foremost American sculptors.  He was born at Vienna, in 1862.  His father’s capture by the Viennese in the war against Hungary, where the father lived, and his subsequent compulsory connection with the Viennese army made the son, Isidore, long for the freedom of America.  He came to America as a boy, living in Chicago.  He exhibited at the Chicago Exposition in 1893, and later attracted much favorable comment at the Pan-American Exposition at Buffalo.  His works in the Fine Arts Palace are of a very high order and are exquisitely modeled.  The more sober life of the individual, with appreciation of sentiment and longing, are evident in his works.

Leo Lentelli

Leo Lentelli was born in Bologna, Italy, in 1879.  He came to the United States in 1903, where he has been permanently located in New York.  His most notable work is seen in the Cathedral of Saint John the Divine, New York, where he has done “The Savior with Sixteen Angels” for the reredos.  He has recently completed a group which has been placed over the entrance to the new Branch Public Library of San Francisco.  He is still another of the sculptors who is self-taught.

Evelyn Beatrice Longman

Evelyn Beatrice Longman has risen constantly in her work since she took her first step in art at the Chicago Art Institute.  She was born in Ohio of English parents, being one of six children.  At fourteen she began to earn her own living in Chicago, studying at night at the Chicago Institute of Art.  She saved her money, using it on her education at Olivet College.  She returned to Chicago and studied drawing and anatomy.  So clever was she that at the end of the first year she began to teach those subjects at the Institute.  Later, she went to New York where she studied with Herman MacNeil and Daniel Chester French.  She really made her debut in sculpture at the St. Louis Exposition, where she showed “Victory,” a male figure which was so excellent in invention and technique that it was given a place of honor on the top of Festival Hall.  In 1907 John Quincy Adams Ward offered a prize for the best portrait bust.  This competition was open to all American sculptors.  Charles Grafly won in the competition, but Miss Longman won the second place with her “Aenigma.”  Besides some excellent portraits, she has done two remarkable bronze gates at the entrance to the chapel of the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis, and much fine figure work.  Daniel Chester French says “She is the last word in ornament.”

Herman A. MacNeil