William Clark Noble Art for Sale at Auction

Sculptor, b. 1858 - d. 1938

Noble was born in Gardiner, Maine, son of a sea captain who died shortly after his birth. Noble was taken care of by his grandparents.

Early in life, the young William showed a natural talent for modeling animals in clay in his grandfather’s home. After reading the life of Danish sculptor, Berthel Thorvaldsen, at the age of eight Noble decided to become a sculptor. After his grandfather died in 1870, William moved to Boston and became an apprentice to an architectural sculptor. He also studied anatomy and art under the painter Franklin Pierce and the American sculptor Richard Greenough.

In 1879 William opened a studio in Newport, RI and there became a successful sculptor. In 1892 he moved to New York City to open his next studio. At that time, New York City was the best place for a sculptor to receive commissions. During his time in New York, Noble he received many monumental commissions. His most famous monumental sculptures include the Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Monument in Newport, the Phillips Brooks Monument in New York, and the portrait bust of General Potter owned by the Chamber of Commerce of New York. For the Louisiana Purchase Exposition of St. Louis in 1904 he produced monumental sculptures representing Napoleon Bonaparte, Thomas Jefferson and Anthony Wayne.