MAHONRI MACKINTOSH YOUNG (AMERICAN, 1877–1957)
The Stone Mason
Bronze, cast posthumously
18 x 10 x 14.5 in
A muscular laborer kneels mid-swing, chisel and hammer poised in rhythmic motion. The Stone Mason was conceived as a companion to The Carpenter, forming a powerful sculptural tribute to manual craftsmanship. Influenced by Rodin and the American Ashcan School, Young imbues the figure with monumentality, despite its modest scale. This work honors physical toil as a noble and enduring act.
About the Artist:
Grandson of Latter-day Saint leader Brigham Young, Mahonri M. Young studied in New York and Paris, training with the Art Students League and Académie Julian. A close friend of Ashcan artist Robert Henri, Young became known for his sculptures and paintings of urban laborers, prizefighters, and common men. His works are in the collections of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Whitney, and the Utah Museum of Fine Arts.
