GUTZON BORGLUM.  Gutzon Borglum (1867–1941) was a distinguished American sculptor best known for his monumental depiction of four presidents on Mount Rushmore.

OVERSIZED PORTRAIT OF MOUNT RUSHMORE’S CREATOR SIGNED AND INSCRIBED BY GUTZON BORGLUM

Oversized matte-finish portrait of Mount Rushmore’s creator signed and inscribed in fountain pen by Gutzon Borglum, “To my dear friends—What are friends and who?  Those who understand—and we believe love us—Ralph & Hazel Bradford, affectionately, Gutzon Borglum, Oct. 22-1933, Washington D.C.”  Measures 13.5 by 10 inches and in fine condition with a few light border stains and a crease to the lower left corner.

“TO MY DEAR FRIENDS—WHAT ARE FRIENDS AND WHO?  THOSE WHO UNDERSTAND—AND WE BELIEVE LOVE US—RALPH & HAZEL BRADFORD, AFFECTIONATELY, GUTZON BORGLUM, OCT. 22-1933, WASHINGTON D.C.”

Ralph Bradford, a writer and manager of the Corpus Christi Chamber of Congress, was a close friend of Borglum and employed him while planning the redevelopment of the Corpus Christi waterfront in the late 1920s.  He produced several models of his sweeping redesign of the bayfront, which called for a smooth seawall resembling an amphitheater topped by parapets, a grand boulevard dotted with parks, and an imposing 32-foot statue of Christ atop the rock jetties in the bay.  The plan was eventually tabled, though postwar construction somewhat resembled his plans.  A fascinating association with one of Borglum’s unrealized artistic visions.