James Goodwin Batterson

James G. Batterson was a true Renaissance Man. During hislifetime, he

• actively promoted the arts in Hartford;

• played a key role in the founding of Cedar Hill Cemetery;

• was a good friend of Elizabeth Colt and was instrumental in Elizabeth's purchase of a large family plot at Cedar Hill and in erecting the firstmajor monument on the Cemetery's grounds;

• headed both New England Granite Works and Travelers Insurance Company;

• was involved in collecting various types of artwork from around the world and inspired Elizabeth Colt to acquire many of her fine art pieces;

• started the Free Drawing School for Men in Hartford to nurture native artistic talents;

• joined forces with Elizabeth Colt in the 1870's to turn the Atheneum into a free public art museum;

• traveled to Italy seeking talented sculptors who he would then bring to work in Hartford;

• is credited with bringing the art of sculpture to Hartford and for discovering and promoting sculptor Argenti whose works can still be found thoughout; and

• was the leading supplier of stone for Civil War monuments - some of the largest Civil War monuments designed by Batterson are at Antietam and Gettysburg.