William Randolph Barbee

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William Randolph Barbee (17 January 181816 June 1868) was an American sculptor recognized for creating idealized, sentimental classical figures.

Barbee was born in a part of Culpeper County, Virginia, that later became Rappahannock County. For a time he practiced law in Luray, Virginia. In the mid-1850s he moved to Florence, Italy, where he acquired a studio. Barbee's most notable works were marble sculptures entitled Coquette and Fisher Girl. He also completed a plaster bust of James L. Orr, Speaker of the United States House of Representatives.

Barbee returned to the United States in 1858. He left two major works unfinished at his death, The Star of the West (a depiction of Pocahontas) and The Lost Pleiad. He died near Luray and was buried in Green Hill Cemetery there.

[edit] References

  • John T. Kneebone et al., eds., Dictionary of Virginia Biography (Richmond: Library of Virginia, 1998- ), 1:326-327. ISBN 0-88490-189-0.