1892 - 1986
Waldine Amanda Tauch
Pioneering Texas sculptor who defied expectations to create heroic public monuments. Protégée of Pompeo Coppini and co-founder of the Coppini Academy of Fine Art.
Waldine in the Coppini studio
A Natural Talent Discovered
Waldine Amanda Tauch (pronounced to rhyme with "cow") entered the world on January 28, 1892, in the small Texas town of Schulenburg. Her father William, a photographer by trade, nurtured her artistic inclinations from an early age—providing photographs for her to sketch and encouraging her creative exploration. Her mother, however, held more traditional hopes, wishing her daughter would marry and raise a family.
At the tender age of seven, young Waldine became captivated by an exquisitely carved German ivory bookmark brought to their home by a family friend. That moment sparked a lifelong passion. She began sculpting immediately, working with whatever materials she could find—clay, chalk, soap, wood, and eventually stone.
When her family relocated to Brady, Texas, due to her father's declining health, the local Brady Tuesday Study Club recognized her exceptional abilities. After she created a butter sculpture centerpiece for one of their luncheons that left members astonished, they began raising funds for her artistic education. This effort led to her introduction to the renowned sculptor Pompeo Coppini, who maintained a studio in San Antonio.
From Student to Partner
In 1910, just two weeks before she would have graduated high school, the eighteen-year-old Waldine left everything behind to study with Coppini in San Antonio. Coppini was immediately struck by her raw talent. When the club's funding eventually ran dry, forcing her to return to Brady, Coppini refused to let her promising career end. He brought her back to San Antonio and taught her without charge, raising her as a foster daughter in his own home.
Under Coppini's tutelage, Waldine absorbed the principles of classical sculpture and developed a naturalistic style. Like her mentor, she became an outspoken champion of traditional art, once famously declaring abstract art to be "an irritation to the eye and an insult to the mind."
When Waldine announced her ambition to create large-scale heroic public monuments, Coppini initially pushed back. Standing just five feet, five and a half inches tall, she seemed physically ill-suited for the demanding work of sculpting larger-than-life figures. But Waldine refused to be deterred. Those who watched her work over the years marveled at her strength and stamina—climbing tall ladders, constructing heavy armatures from boards and pipes, and packing them with clay to bring her visions to life.
Notable Sculptures
Throughout her seven-decade career, Waldine created works displayed across Texas and beyond, earning recognition from the National Sculpture Society and the Texas Senate.
The First Inhabitant
A striking 7-foot bronze of a Native American in full feathered headdress, originally featuring drinking fountains in small bowls held in each hand. Her first major public commission in San Antonio.
The First Shot Fired For Texas Independence
A life-sized bronze bas-relief set in granite commemorating the Battle of Gonzales. She won this commission over renowned sculptor Gutzon Borglum, creator of Mount Rushmore.
Moses Austin
A 10-foot statue with bas-reliefs around the base depicting scenes from Austin's life. The inscription took weeks to carve—and had to be redone when given incorrect information.
Douglas MacArthur
An 8-foot bronze statue that became her most desired commission, received at age 74. She famously created the initial nude figure before adding military attire.
Education Reflects Responsibility Into The World
A heroic-sized bronze created for the campus where she had taught. The figure is a composite of three different male models—each contributing their best features.
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Pippa Passes
A bronze, life-sized high relief at Baylor, representing one of her most celebrated works in classical style.
Texas Centennial Commission
Beating Mount Rushmore's Creator
When the 1936 Texas Centennial celebration sparked a wave of commemorative commissions, Waldine returned to San Antonio to compete. Her determination paid off spectacularly—she won the commission for "The First Shot Fired For Texas Independence" over none other than Gutzon Borglum, the nationally renowned sculptor responsible for Mount Rushmore.
The life-sized bronze bas-relief, set in granite near the historic Battle of Gonzales site, stands as a testament to her skill and the recognition she had earned among her peers.
Life Timeline
Born January 28 in Schulenburg, Texas, daughter of photographer William Tauch
At age 7, became enchanted by a carved German ivory bookmark and began sculpting
Left Brady to study with Pompeo Coppini in San Antonio, just two weeks before graduating high school
Secured her first public commission—a bas-relief for Brownwood Library
Created 'The First Inhabitant' for Commerce Street Bridge in San Antonio
Worked with Coppini in his Chicago studio
Lived in New York, assisting Coppini with the Littlefield Fountain and creating her own works
Returned to San Antonio for Texas Centennial commissions
Built shared studio with Coppini at 115 Melrose Place, San Antonio
Received honorary doctorate from Howard Payne College
Taught at Trinity University alongside Coppini
Co-founded the Academy of Fine Art with Coppini (later Coppini Academy)
Elected Fellow of the National Sculpture Society of New York City
Texas Senate awarded her Recognition Certificate for contributions to Texas culture
Passed away March 31 in San Antonio, buried with the Coppinis at Sunset Memorial Park
An Enduring Legacy
Waldine continued sculpting and teaching well into her eighties, her passion undimmed even as her eyesight began to fail. Beyond her artistic contributions, she traveled throughout Texas promoting traditional art through lectures and demonstrations. She served on numerous arts organizations including the National Sculpture Society, the San Antonio Art League, and the National Association of Women Painters and Sculptors.
When she passed away on March 31, 1986, at the age of 94, she was laid to rest alongside her mentors, Pompeo and Elizabeth Coppini, at Sunset Memorial Park—a fitting tribute to a partnership that shaped Texas sculpture for generations.
Continuing Their Vision
The Coppini Academy of Fine Art, which Waldine co-founded with Pompeo in 1945 and later sponsored after his death, continues their shared mission of preserving classical art traditions.