Sculpture: Marble bust of Jenny Lind by H. W. McCarthy
Jenny Lind (associated with)
1850 – 1860 (Date manufactured/created)
marble
Measurement Notes: Worksheet dimensions: 57" H x 49" W x 26" D - to be confirmed
White marble bust (head and upper body) said to be of Swedish soprano Jenny Lind, the opera singer whom P. T. Barnum engaged to perform in a concert tour of North America from 1850 to 1851. Lind was popularly known as "The Swedish Nightingale" because of her beautiful voice. She first became famous in Europe, though Barnum had not heard her sing during his travels there. He risked everything to bring her to America, believing that if he promoted her generous, charitable nature, her kindness would appeal to Americans and they would buy tickets to her concerts. His promotion began months in advance, resulting in thousands coming to greet Lind upon her arrival in New York City on September 11, 1850. This life-sized bust by H. W. McCarthy may have been made during the period of time when Lind was in America or later; the date is unknown. Though reportedly sculpted in Italy, more likely the reference to Italy speaks to the source of the marble. Inscribed under the artist's name on the back of the sculpture is, "London." The bust depicts a woman with her hair parted in the center, as was typical of all women's hairstyles in the mid-1800s. On each side of the face, the hair is gently twisted toward the back where it is gathered together and coiled. The face is not an accurate representation of Lind's features, however the bust was made to resemble classical statuary (note the sculpted fabric draped in loose folds), so creating a strong likeness of an individual was probably not the primary intent. The bust belonged to P. T. Barnum and it is said he always had it displayed in his homes, even decades after Lind's sensational tour. Possibly it was he who thought of it as a representation of Jenny Lind, bearing some resemblance to her, and so referred to it that way. Barnum or his widow, Nancy Fish Barnum, donated the sculpture to the Barnum Institute of Science and History (now the Barnum Museum) in the late 1800s.
Johanna Maria Lind, who came to be known as Jenny Lind, was born on October 6, 1820, in Stockholm Sweden. Her childhood was difficult but despite the lack of stability in her home life, the exceptional quality of her voice was recognized when she was young, and she received training at the Royal Dramatic Theatre in Stockholm, and the Royal Swedish Academy of Music. She reached high acclaim in Europe, and eventually P. T. Barnum engaged her for a tour of America in 1850-1851. Lind, previously unknown to Americans, was promoted by Barnum, creating insatiable demand for concert tickets and the innumerable consumer products that were manufactured with her name. Lind gave most of her earnings to charitable causes, especially those to help women and children. Halfway through the tour, Lind married her replacement pianist Otto Goldschmidt. Exhausted from Barnum's schedule and relentless marketing of her, she ended her contract with him. The couple continued the tour on their own, less successfully financially, and then returned to Europe. They settled in England and had three children. Lind became a professor of singing at the Royal College of Music in London. She died at age 67 on November 2, 1887, and is buried at the Great Malvern Cemetery in Malvern, Worcestershire, England.
Johanna Maria Lind, who came to be known as Jenny Lind, was born on October 6, 1820, in Stockholm Sweden. Her childhood was difficult but despite the lack of stability in her home life, the exceptional quality of her voice was recognized when she was young, and she received training at the Royal Dramatic Theatre in Stockholm, and the Royal Swedish Academy of Music. She reached high acclaim in Europe, and eventually P. T. Barnum engaged her for a tour of America in 1850-1851. Lind, previously unknown to Americans, was promoted by Barnum, creating insatiable demand for concert tickets and the innumerable consumer products that were manufactured with her name. Lind gave most of her earnings to charitable causes, especially those to help women and children. Halfway through the tour, Lind married her replacement pianist Otto Goldschmidt. Exhausted from Barnum's schedule and relentless marketing of her, she ended her contract with him. The couple continued the tour on their own, less successfully financially, and then returned to Europe. They settled in England and had three children. Lind became a professor of singing at the Royal College of Music in London. She died at age 67 on November 2, 1887, and is buried at the Great Malvern Cemetery in Malvern, Worcestershire, England.
EL 1988.032.001