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Luigi Del Bianco: Italian Immigrant and Chief Carver on Mount Rushmore

Luigi Del Bianco, a classically trained stone carver, was chief carver on the Mount Rushmore National Memorial. He was hired by Gutson Broglum in 1933 to "bring refinement of expression" to the faces of the four presidents.

Known as "Bianco", Borglum writes about Luigi Del Bianco with the highest praise:

1933

. . . . . .He is worth any three men I could find in America, for this particular type of work, here and now, but Mount Rushmore is not managed that way and doesn't want that kind of service. He entirely out-classed everyone on the hill, and his knowledge was an embarrassment to their amateur efforts and lack of knowledge, lack of experience and lack of judgment. He is the only man besides myself who has been on the work who knows the problems and how to instantly solve them. His absence is a great loss to this work this year. . . ...The loss of Bianco will probably prevent the finishing of the Washington and Jefferson heads this year. . . . . . (The Borglum Papers, Library of Congress)

JULY 30, 1935:

Re-organization No. 2

William Tallman

Please post this in the dining room for the men. All drilling of all kinds, roughing, finishing and carving of features must be directed by the chief stone carver and his directions followed. The chief carver will be held responsible for the ways and the means for removing and finishing the sculpture. . . . . . . . . . .I have appointed Luigi Bianco for this most important task.(The Borglum Papers, Library of Congress)

SEPTEMBER 17, 1936

. . . . .The plans for the remaining approximate two months of good weather are to finish completely the face of Washington with all refinements of expression; this work being in the hands of Mr. Borglum and the one stone carver on the work, Bianco. . . . . ..(The Borglum Papers, Library of Congress)

It was "Bianco", who along side with the aging Borglum, helped to train countless untrained workmen in the art of pointing, carving and removal of granite.

It was "Bianco" who bought the eyes of the Presidents to life, particularly Lincoln, whose pupils seem to change expression as the sun moves across the daytime sky.

It was "Bianco" who was asked by Borglum in 1940 to return to Mount Rushmore to repair a dangerous fissure that had developed on the lip of Thomas Jefferson. The repair, which saved the face of Jefferson and potentially the entire work, is almost entirely undetectable, even on close inspection.

Luigi Del Bianco's contributions to the carving of Mount Rushmore are well documented. He was an immigrant of Italian descent who came to this country to work on America's greatest National Memorial.