Gary Casteel Explained

Gary Casteel (born 1946) is an American sculptor. One of his most notable works is the equestrian statue of Confederate States of America General James Longstreet erected in 1998 at Gettysburg National Military Park.^[2] Casteel is a proponent of establishing a National Civil War Memorial.^[3]

Early years and career

Casteel was born in West Virginia in 1946. When he was in the fourth grade in school, he decided that he wanted to become a sculptor after seeing a photo of Michelangelo's David.^[4]

Casteel never enrolled in an art class.^[1] He gained experience through apprenticeships with American and European sculptors, including the Pucci family^[5] of marble carvers from Pietrasanta, Italy.^[1] Casteel honed his artistic talents as follows:

• woodcarving with Salvatore Lopez of Miami
• bronze casting with Sheidow Bronze Corporation of Kingwood, West Virginia
• clay modeling with Russell Rote of New York City.

Casteel is a Vietnam veteran.^{[6] [7]} He operates his own studio and art gallery in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania.^[8]

Selected works

• William C. Goodridge sculpture at the Goodridge Freedom Center in York, Pennsylvania^[9]
• Jefferson Davis & Sons statue on the grounds of Beauvoir (Biloxi, Mississippi)^[10]
• World War I Doughboy sculpture at the Army War College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania^[11]
• Robert E. Lee bronze bas-relief portrait at Sanford, North Carolina^[12]
• Jack H. Williams statue at The Boys’ Latin School of Maryland in Towson, Maryland^[13]
• Brothers an American Civil War life-size sculpture at the Virginia State Capitol in Richmond^[14]
• Monument to the 90th Pennsylvania Infantry Regiment at Antietam National Battlefield^[15]
• North Carolina Monument at South Mountain Battlefield, Fox's Gap Maryland^[16]

External links

• National Civil War Memorial website

Notes and References

1. Web site: Casteel Sculptures, LLC. Valley Arts Publishing. December 11, 2023.
2. Web site: Monument to General James Longstreet at Gettysburg. December 11, 2023.
3. Web site: Year in Review: Renowned sculptor proposes Civil War Memorial to Taneytown. December 20, 2018. December 11, 2023.
4. Web site: Gary Casteel, Nationally Recognized Sculptor and Painter. pcntv.com. December 11, 2023.
5. Web site: Meet the sculptors who created the celebrated Mother Cabrini memorial unveiled in Manhattan this month. Denise. Civiletti. October 31, 2020. December 11, 2023.
6. Web site: Lock Haven’s Veterans Park committee secures notable sculptor for featured art work. March 12, 2022. December 11, 2023.
7. Web site: Harger tabs Casteel to sculpt main art for Veterans Park. December 11, 2023.
8. Web site: Casteel Sculptures, LLC. casteelsculptures.com. December 11, 2023.
9. Web site: Come, take a seat with the accomplished William C. Goodridge. Jim. McClure. York Daily Record. December 11, 2023.
10. Web site: February 11, 2009 . Beauvoir interested in new Jefferson Davis statue . December 11, 2023 . wlox.com.
11. Web site: Class of 2017 gift to USAWC. December 11, 2023. www.youtube.com.
12. Web site: Robert E. Lee Memorial. ncconfederatemonuments.org. December 11, 2023.
13. Web site: Jack Williams Statue Unveiling - Boys' Latin School of Maryland. www.boyslatinmd.com. December 11, 2023.
14. Web site: Civil War sculpture ‘Brothers’ unveiled at Virginia State Capitol. Catherine. Saunders-Watson. July 14, 2011. December 11, 2023.
15. Web site: 90th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry Monument - Antietam National Battlefield (U.S. National Park Service) . 2023-12-11 . www.nps.gov . en.
16. Web site: The North Carolina Monument on the South Mountain battlefield. December 11, 2023.