PrintAlexander Proctor: Sculptor in Buckskin
EnlargeSculptor in Buckskin: The Autobiography of Alexander Phimister Proctor, edited by Katharine C. Ebner, reads like a good yarn and is embellished with photographs and newspaper clippings that bring historical perspective to Proctor’s life story. The sculptor lived a dual existence: A big game hunter in the West, he was also an academically trained artist who toured New York and Paris. A meticulous student of anatomy, he created detailed statues of the wildlife, Indians, and pioneers he observed. Proctor recounts his experiences with candor and an artist’s eye for detatil, and his search for a suitable human model is as captivating to read as his encounter with a mountain lion. The autobiography itself is worth the price of the book, but the reproductions of the artist’s paintings and sculptures make this a sure bet for fans of Western art and lore.
• Info: University of Oklahoma Press, 800.627.7377, www.oupress.com.
Issue: April 2010
