Gettysburg Sculptures

Lawrence Ludtke

1929-2007

Sculptor of the Maryland State Memorial "Brothers Again"

Above, Ludtke making remarks at the dedication of the Maryland State Memorial Sunday, November 13, 1994.

Born in a suburb of Houston, Texas, Ludtke as a boy enjoyed playing baseball. He recalled the daily "banging of baseballs off our neighbors' roofs" that would lead him to a minor league career as a pitcher for the Brooklyn Dodgers. Ludtke would be drafted in 1952 for military service during the Korean War. After being discharged in 1954, Ludtke would spend a few more years pursuing baseball but eventually become a sales representative for Riddell sporting goods.

Upon Ludtke's marriage to his wife Erika (Lewandowski) in 1960 the couple chose a honeymoon trip to Europe. It would be during this trip that "a light went on." Ludtke after viewing many works of some of the greatest artists of all time knew he wanted to purse sculpting.

Ludtke was determined to learn everything he could about sculpting. He would study classical figure and portrait sculpture as well as the works of many famous sculptors such as Michelangelo and Rodin. It was during this research Ludtke would come to admire the works of Italian born Pompeo Coppini. Coppini who came to the United States in 1896 eventually established his studio in  San Antonio, Texas. It would be in that studio Ludtke would meet the protégé and foster daughter of Coppini, Waldine Tauch. Tauch, also an acclaimed sculptor, would be instrumental in training Ludtke and developing his natural talent. 

During his life Ludtke would receive dozens of commissions and has works throughout the United States. 

This program was distributed to those attending the dedication. This example is signed by then Governor William Schaefer and Ludtke.

Throughout the years medals or ribbons were often presented to those attending the dedication of mouments and memorials at Gettysburg. 

A maquette of the "Brothers Again" memorial.

 Ludtke in his studio working on the clay Brothers Again.

 The autograph of the sculptor on an original dedication program.

 Ludtke incised his name in the clay before casting the bronze. I view it as his stamp of approval.

It was difficult to find the foundry stamp "SF" of the Shidoni Foundry located in Tesuque, New Mexico.

The employees of the foundry found Ludtke " never rude or arrogant - he just wanted it done right." It was indeed done right!

 A commemorative envelope was created to mark the importance of the event.

  Ludtke would comment in regards to his Gettysburg Memorial, "I never dreamed when I began my career as a sculptor it would lead to this ground where so many men fought for causes they were willing to die for. I thought I had come along too late in my career. To have my work placed beside those great sculptors of the past, such as Gutzon Borglum, Bush Brown (H.K.Bush Brown), and Donald DeLue, was a challenge and a responsibility not taken lightly."

Upon his death in August, 2007 Ludtke would have his ashes spread on the Gettysburg Battlefield.

Ludtke was a true artist. Not only being a great sculptor but also as a painter. He would paint in great detail the western face of Little Round Top.

A great resource for this page was the book, Life in Bronze published by Texas A & M University Press in 2013 by author Amy L Bacon.

 Her work has well documented the life of Lawrence Ludtke, a great American sculptor.