Bacon

Henry Bacon, architect of the Lincoln Memorial at Washington, died at the Post-Graduate Hospital in Manhattan last week.

Henry Bacon was well known as a designer of settings for sculpture by Augustus Saint-Gaudens and Daniel C. French. Among his many successes are the memorial to James McNeill Whistler in the West Point Library and the Marcus Alonzo Hanna monument at Cleveland. But his crowning achievement was the memorial to Lincoln. Here his profound knowledge of Greek architecture, coupled with his skill in adapting classic design to modern needs, produced possibly the most dignified piece of architecture in the country. Mr. Bacon was selected by the Fine Arts Commission in 1911 to design this important work and was given what he said was "the best site for the purpose in the world."

Mr. Bacon received on May 18, 1923 (TIME, May 28) the greatest tribute that can be bestowed on an American architect. On the evening of that day, in the shadow of his great memorial, whither he had been escorted by a most distinguished gathering of architects, artists, statesmen, he was presented with the Gold Medal of the American Institute of Architects. This tribute had been given in all to six persons.* Warren G. Harding officiated in the pageant. In a laudatory speech, Royal Cortissoz said: "Has he [Bacon] not stated in enduring beauty the faith of a nation in an immortal leader?" Henry Bacon was born of New England parents at Watseka, Ill., in 1866. He was graduated from the University of Illinois, completed his studies in Europe by help of the Rotch traveling scholarship. A close friend of the late Stanford White, he was at one time connected with Mc-Kim, Mead & White. In 1897 he started the firm of Brite & Bacon in New York, finally in 1903 establishing himself alone as one of America's most successful architects.

*Besides Bacon those who received the Gold Medal are: Victor Laloux of France. Charles F. McKim of the U. S. (designer of the Morgan Library). Jean Louis Pascal of France. George B. Post of the U. S. Sir Aston Yebb of Great Britain.