Melvin Earl Cummings

Melvin Earl Cummings (August 13, 1876 – July 21, 1936), also known as M. Earl Cummings, was an American sculptor active in San Francisco, California.

Cummings was born in Salt Lake City, and studied sculpture first at the Mark Hopkins Institute of Art in San Francisco, under Arthur Mathews and later Douglas Tilden, and subsequently from 1900-1903 at the École des Beaux-Arts, Paris, under Louis Noël and Antonin Mercié. After his return to San Francisco, he became Professor of Sculpture at the Mark Hopkins Institute, which position he retained to 1915. In addition, in 1906 he was appointed Instructor in Modeling (and later promoted to Assistant Professor) in the University of California, Berkeley's School of Architecture, which position he held until his death. He also served on Golden Gate Park's Board of Park Commissioners from 1904 until his death, and several of his works are located in the park. He had a son named Ramsdale, who was the Bohemian Club photographer.

Selected works

• The Doughboy at the Grove of Memory, Golden Gate Park.
• Statue of Robert Burns, Golden Gate Park.
• Pool of Enchantment, M. H. deYoung Memorial Museum, Golden Gate Park.
• Neptune's Daughter, Golden Gate Park.
• Sun Dial, Golden Gate Park.
• Becker Fountain, Golden Gate Park.
• Rideout Fountain, Golden Gate Park.
• Le Soif Fountain, Washington Square, San Francisco.
• Bas-relief of George Hearst, Mining Building, University of California.
• Portrait of General Richard W. Young, Capitol, Salt Lake City, Utah.

References

• California Art Research project, Volume 6, pages 114-131
• Calisphere article
• NoeHill article