Rudolph Schwarz

Rudolf Schwarz (June 1866 – 14 April 1912), sometimes spelled Rudolph Schwarz, was an Austrian-born American sculptor. He emigrated to Indianapolis in December 1897 to help complete the Soldiers' and Sailors' Monument in Indianapolis, Indiana, which was designed by German architect Bruno Schmitz. He was invited to work on the project by Karl Bitter, with whom he had worked in Austria.

Training In Vienna, Schwarz attended the Real-Schule, similar to America's high school, for eight years. Afterward, he entered the Imperial Academy of Arts in Vienna, where his work was recognized and where he received many prizes. Karl Bitter met him at that Academy and introduced him to stone-carving.

Bitter describes Schwarz in their younger days:

"Schwarz attracted me very much. His manly bearing, his fondness for athletic exercise, his straightforwardness, and particularly his quick and vivid mind, made him one of the most promising pupils of the Academy. To his influence during these years I owe a great deal, especially in physical development. He supplied our class with dumbbells, which became our favorite exercise. He was the kind of young man in every respect that I should like my son to be; for with his coming a new ideal, striving, entered the hearts of the other students.",

Legacy Schwarz is known from at least 30 sculptural works throughout the state of Indiana, many of which are War Memorials.

Selected works Indiana Soldiers' and Sailors' Monument (1897-1902), Monument Circle, Indianapolis, Indiana, Bruno Schmitz, architect. Nikolaus Geiger and George Brewster modeled the bronze architectural sculpture. Brewster also modeled the bronze figure of Victory atop the monument. War, limestone, designed by Frederick MacMonnies, carved by Schwarz. Peace, limestone, designed by Frederick MacMonnies, carved by Schwarz. The Dying Soldier, limestone. The Return Home, limestone. Artilleryman, limestone. Sailor, limestone. Infantryman, limestone. Cavalryman, limestone. Architectural sculpture, South Side Turnverein Hall (1899-1900), Indianapolis, Indiana. Soldiers' and Sailors' Monument (1902–03), St. Joseph County Courthouse, South Bend, Indiana. Hazen S. Pingree (1903), Grand Circus Park, Detroit, Michigan. Forrest Monument (1904), Crown Hill Cemetery, Indianapolis, Indiana. Vawter Memorial (1905), Johnson County Courthouse, Franklin, Indiana. Soldiers' Monument (1905–06), Trigon Park, Le Roy, New York. Soldiers' and Sailors' Monument (1906), Montgomery County Courthouse, Crawfordsville, Indiana. Portrait Medallions of Rubens, da Vinci, Michaelangelo, Velasquez (1906), Herron School of Art and Design, Indianapolis, Indiana. Since 2006, this building has been occupied by Herron High School, a charter school for the arts. Lincoln Plaque (1907), Washington & Missouri Streets, Indianapolis, Indiana. Oliver P. Morton and Reliefs (1907), in front of the Indiana State Capitol, Indianapolis, Indiana. Soldiers' and Sailors' Monument (1907–08), Posey County Courthouse, Mount Vernon, Indiana, F. M. Young, architect. Soldiers' and Sailors' Monument (1909–10), Vigo County Courthouse, Terre Haute, Indiana. Soldiers' and Sailors' Monument (1911–12), Gibson County Courthouse, Princeton, Indiana. Soldiers' and Sailors' Monument (1913–14), Knox County Courthouse, Vincennes, Indiana.