Samuel Murray

Somehow I missed Samuel Murray (1869-1941) when I did my earlier posts on Thomas Eakins and his models. Murray wasn't just one of the men who posed nude for Eakins—he was his student, assistant, collaborator, studio mate and lifelong friend. He entered Eakins's circle at 17, eventually becoming a sculptor in his own right.

1. Samuel Murray posing in Thomas Eakins' studio...photo by Eakins c 1890-1892.

2. Portrait of Samuel Murray by Eakins in 1889.  Handsome fellow.

The two shared a studio at 1330 Chestnut Street, worked from some of the same models, bicycled, attended boxing matches, fished and traveled together, and even cast Walt Whitman's death mask after the poet died. 

3. Photo portrait of Murray by Eakins in 1890.

4. Samuel Murray standing nude backside by Eakins.

5. Samuel Murray nude on horseback by Eakins. A beautiful photo in my humble opinion.

Murray apparently wasn't gay, although the exact nature of his remarkably close relationship with Eakins has been a matter of speculation. That studio connection became especially fun for me recently when I visited 1330 Chestnut myself—the very place shown in this photograph of Murray, Eakins and sculptor William Rudolf O'Donovan.

6. L-R Samuel Murray, Thomas Eakins, and William O'Donovan in Eakins'/Murray's studio. Notice Murray's death mask of Walt Whitman, who was their close friend, in the background.

Murray even appears in Eakins's Salutat (1898), leaning over the barrier at far right as boxer “Turkey Point” Billy Smith receives the crowd's applause. And here's where it gets even better: Murray sculpted Billy Smith himself the following year. Eakins paints Smith with Murray watching; Murray then turns around and makes Smith the subject of his own art.

7. Salutat by Eakins featuring his model, Billy "Turkey Point" Smith as the boxer waving to the crowd and Samuel Murray in the far right with his arms hanging over the wall applauding Billy...who was also a close friend and modeled for Murray too.

8. Sculpture of Billy "Turkey Point" Smith by Samuel Murray in 1899.

That's what makes Murray so interesting to me. He posed for Eakins, learned from him, worked beside him, shared his models and eventually made art of Eakins himself. Model, student, collaborator, artist, friend. Definitely someone I should have included sooner.

9. Plaster cast of Eakins' right hand painted white created by Murray in 1894.

10. Bust of Eakins' father, Benjamin, with whom Murray was also well-acquainted, which Thomas Eakins praised for not only capturing his likeness, but also his personality.

11. Sculpture of Thomas Eakins with his painting palette by Murray - 1907.

Please leave thoughts, questions, corrections or additions in the comments. Thank you, bns