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Maurice Sterne: Life and Legacy

Early Life and Education

• Born: August 18, 1878, in Liepāja (Libau), Latvia.
• Sterne was the youngest of five children born to an Orthodox Jewish family within the Russian Empire.
• Following his father’s death, the family relocated to Moscow but were later forced to emigrate to New York City in 1889.
• Education: Sterne began his artistic training as a draftsman and painter. He studied under Alfred Maurer and Thomas Eakins at the National Academy of Design in the late 1890s.

Artistic Development and Influences

• Initially working as a painter, Sterne’s work was noted for its sculptural qualities – volume and weight.
• Early Travels: He traveled extensively in Europe and the Far East, broadening his artistic horizons.
• Greek Inspiration (1908): A pivotal trip to Greece introduced him to archaic Greek statues, profoundly influencing his sculptural approach.
• Bali Period (1911-1914): Sterne and friend Karli Sohn-Rethel spent time in India, the Far East, and particularly Bali, painting and sketching. This period significantly shaped his later artistic style.

New Mexico and Establishing a Reputation

• Taos Art Colony (1916-1918): Sterne moved to New Mexico at the suggestion of Paul Burlin, becoming part of the vibrant Taos art colony.
• Marriage to Mabel Dodge Luhan: He married philanthropist Mabel Dodge Luhan in 1916, a relationship that brought him further into the artistic and social circles of the time. They divorced in 1923.
• Recognition (1926-1933): A show at the Scott and Fowles Gallery in 1926, followed by a retrospective at the Museum of Modern Art in 1933, solidified his reputation as an important modernist artist.

Later Career and Achievements

• Teaching & West Coast (Mid-1930s): Sterne lived in San Francisco and taught at the California School of Fine Arts.
• East Coast Studio (1945): He established a studio in Mount Kisco, New York, after returning to the East Coast.
• American Academy of Arts and Letters (1938): Sterne was elected to this prestigious institution.
• U.S. Commission of Fine Arts (1945-1950): He served on this commission, contributing to the aesthetic landscape of Washington D.C.
• Public Works: Sterne created murals for the library of the Department of Justice in Washington, D.C.

Legacy and Historical Significance

• Museum Collections: His works are held in major museums including the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Art Institute of Chicago, the Corcoran Gallery of Art, and the Phillips Collection.
• Pioneer Woman Competition (1927): Sterne was among twelve sculptors invited to compete for the Pioneer Woman statue commission but did not win.
• Death: Maurice Sterne died on July 23, 1957, in Mount Kisco, New York.
• Sterne’s work represents a fascinating blend of influences – from classical sculpture to Balinese art and modernist sensibilities. He remains a notable figure in American art history, particularly for his contributions to the development of modern sculpture and painting.