Rosamonde Pinchot

Rosamond Pinchot, a talented equine artist, was commissioned to create a sculpture celebrating the Standardbred horse for the Museum. Although the museum has several famous racing horses buried on-site, this sculpture aimed to honor the incredible horses who place second or third and are rarely memorialized. It’s akin to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, but for harness racing.

Working with Rosamond, a 90-year-old artist who has been sculpting and casting bronze works since the 1960s, was a thrilling experience. She has lived a remarkable life. A member of the famous Pinchot family, she still resides at Grey Towers, a historic family estate in Milford, PA, built by her grandfather, Gifford Pinchot, the first Chief of the U.S. Forest Service. Born in Paris to a French mother and an American father, Pinchot developed an early passion for both horses and art. Her love for riding led her to become one of France’s first female jockeys. She brought the French gelding Iris de Vandel to the U.S., where he set American trotting records. As a young girl in Paris, she split her time between horse racing, a rare career for women at the time, and developing her skills as a sculptor and jewelry designer. She even created a private collection of animal jewelry for Cartier in the 1960s. In the 1980s, she returned to America, casting her bronze works at the Seward Johnson Atelier. Pinchot specializes in horse head sculptures, which are featured in museums, galleries, and as trophies. Her sculptures have been sold in galleries across New York, Texas, and California. She is also known for her equine and wildlife jewelry. We were thrilled to welcome her back for this new commission.

When she returned to the Johnson Atelier, we introduced her to the digital age. She brought a small clay horse head sculpture, which we scanned and digitally rescaled to the desired three-foot height. This version was then milled on our CNC machines and returned to her as a foam armature, on which she re-sculpted the clay details at full size. For six months, she meticulously worked from home, refining the details.

Once the model was complete, we oversaw its casting with a partner foundry, sourced a granite base, and installed the work in Goshen in June 2024. The statue was unveiled during the Museum’s annual 4th of July Hall of Fame celebrations. It stands as a testament to Pinchot’s passion for horses and her artistic legacy.