454 Swedenborg Bust by Preston Powers (1879)

According to Jonathan Bayley, Hiram Powers (1805-1873), the most famous American sculptor of the nineteenth century, “spoke of his great wish to do a statue of Swedenborg, which he wanted to make somewhat worthy of its subject. At different times of his life he returned to this idea, but something occurred again and again causing it to be deferred.

“Fully aware of his father’s wishes and ideas, at last this wish was carried out by Mr. Preston Powers, so far as the beautiful and noble bust is concerned, which now stands in the Swedenborg Society’s large room” (Jonathan Bayley, New Church Worthies or Early but Little-known Disciples of the Lord in Diffusing the Truths of the New Church, 1884).

In 1865, Dr. John Spurgin, President of The Swedenborg Society, London, had written to Hiram Powers to see if he would be interested in executing a statue of Swedenborg. The Society had proposed the idea of having a statue of Swedenborg placed in some prominent place in order to increase public awareness of his name, and encourage further investigation into his works. In response to Spurgin’s letter, Powers expressed his willingness to undertake the project, indicating that it would take him about two years to complete. Continue reading » » » »