John Walz

About the artist: From old notebook of Telfair catalogues, transcriptions of Georgia Historical Society minutes and transcriptions of Savannah Morning News articles: John Walz well known sculptor of Savannah whose work is known in the art centers of this country, died yesterday at his residence on East Liberty Street. Mr. Walz was born in Wurtenburg, Germany, on August 31, 1844, coming to this country when he was 13 years of age, and living in Philadelphia. He came to Savannah to live in 1890, although he had previously made many trips to this city in his profession as sculptor. For over eight years he studied in Paris, Vienna and in other art centers on the continent under some of the greatest masters of Europe. In Vienna his was instructed in his studies by Professor Tilgner... Mr. Walz had many of his works exhibited in various museums and art academies in this country, and in 1886 some of his pieces of sculpture were shown in the Centennial Exposition in Philadelphia. He was also the winner of the handsome 'Horn of Plenty' prize. Much of the sculptural work on the prominent buildings in Savannah was done by Mr. Walz. Two of the figures on the front of the Telfair Academy are the work of Mr. Walz while he was in Europe and the remainder of them were cut by him while in Savannah. The design of the front of the Exchange Bank and that on Lawton Memorial were done by Mr. Walz as well as many of the beautiful monuments in Bonaventure, Laurel Grove and Cathedral Cemeteries. (Savannah Morning News, November 28, 1922, page 16, col. 6)