Edward V. Valentine (1838-1930) - On Exhibit at the Valentine Richmond History Center

[Post card image ca. 1915 of Edward V. Valentine
in his studio - click for Large view]

Edward V. Valentine was a major force in southern art and public sculpture during his lifetime and was probably the most successful sculptor Richmond has ever produced. His most noted work is the “Recumbent Lee” (1883) located in the Lee Chapel on the Washington and Lee University campus. He also created the statues of Jefferson Davis (1907) for the Davis Monument on Monument Avenue, the statue of Gen. Williams Carter Wickham (1820-1888) in Monroe Park and of Thomas Jefferson (1895) for the Jefferson Hotel.

The Valentine Richmond History Center has an ongoing exhibit on his work where you can visit his studio and view his work. From the Valentine Richmond History Center's web site:

"Edward Virginius Valentine (1838-1930) sculpted the Robert E. Lee memorial in Lee Chapel at Washington and Lee University in Lexington, Virginia. In Richmond he’s famous for the statue of Thomas Jefferson in the historic Jefferson Hotel. In a successful artistic career that spanned 50 years, Edward Valentine worked in clay, plaster, marble and bronze to produce portrait busts, ideal figures and monumental public sculpture.

His studio building is one of only four surviving 19th century sculptors’ studios in the United States that is open to the public. Visit the studio and share in Valentine’s artistic training, career development, major commissions and personal favorites. The current studio has been renovated and features hundreds of Valentine’s original works and tools, photographs, and personal effects. It offers a rare opportunity to see a large collection of artworks by an individual artist within the setting where they were created."
- Valentine Richmond History Center.

Learn more about Edward V. Valentine Here and

 Here - Dawn to Twilight (published in 1929, the book is available

in most Richmond libraries). A Master's thesis is also available

in the VCU Libraries on his life and work. 

- Ray B.