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Cerracchio's
best-known sculpture is the 40 foot bronze equestrian figure of Sam
Houston at the entrance to Hermann Park. The statue cost $ 75,000
when it was put in place in 1925.
Photo
courtesy Ken
Rudine, January 2007 |
Cerracchio
was born in Naples, Italy, on March 14, 1880, he started forming figures
in clay before he was seven years old. His Godfather noticed his talent
and encouraged it by destroying the boy's efforts and then locking
the boy in a room with fresh clay. He was told to duplicate the pieces
to win his release - which he did. He studied both academic subjects
and sculpture at the Institute Avellino in Italy.
After graduating in 1898 he continued his studies in sculpture under
the acclaimed sculptor Rafael Belliazzi. When Enrico reached his 20th
year, Belliazzi told him his life was "in his hands" since he could
teach him nothing more.
In 1900 Cerracchio immigrated to the United States and after a miserable
3 month period in New York where he worked as a laborer, he moved
to Houston - a region his doctor had recommended for his asthma. He
became a naturalized citizen in 1905 and two years later married Marion
Kowalski of Shamokin, Pennsylvania.
His address in Houston was in the
3500 block of Audubon Street.
Cerracchio preferred working in bronze or marble and he was first
publicly noticed after World
War I when he made two "Doughboy" statues. One was presented to
the Italian government, and the other was presented to Gen. "Blackjack"
Pershing by the City of Houston. |
General Sam
Houston Equestrian Statue Plaque
Photo courtesy Ken
Rudine |
Austin
has two other works of Cerracchio. One is a marble bust of Governor
"Ma" Ferguson (1926) in the State
Capitol, and the other is a bronze bust of General John A. Wharton,
located in the State
Cemetery.
Cerracchio also made busts of John Nance Garner, Jesse H. Jones (Houston
Developer), Albert Einstein, and Rudolf Valentino. He was living in
New York City when he died in 1956.
© John
Troesser |
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