Sep 9, 2026 · 51 min
Sabin Howard makes the case for classical art’s public return
Victor Davis Hanson: Modern ‘Art’ Is Separating Man from Meaning feat. Sculptor Sabin Howard
The conversation asks whether monumental, technically demanding art can recover shared meaning, sacred symbolism, and historical memory in public life.
- 1Sabin Howard links classical figurative training to art that makes human beings and spiritual meaning intelligible.
- 2His Grand Liberty Arch would place 56 figures from American history within a monumental Texas setting.
- 3Howard and Hanson argue that recovering artistic excellence requires independent vision, rigorous education, and institutions willing to support tradition.
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Sabin Howard unveils the ambition of the Grand Liberty Arch: 56 figures, a classical Texas setting, and an eight- to nine-year path toward an American Parthenon.
The brief
Victor Davis Hanson speaks with sculptor Sabin Howard, whose nine-year World War I Memorial anchors a discussion about classical technique, public memory, and the cultural role of figurative art.
Howard describes training in anatomy, skeletal structure, live modeling, and traditional casting, arguing that intelligible human forms can carry spiritual significance rather than merely decorate public space.
The conversation turns to the Grand Liberty Arch, a planned Texas monument with 56 figures depicting American history and a surrounding classical plaza modeled as an American Parthenon.
Howard says the project could cost about $50 million and take eight to nine years, while its proposed setting raises questions about donors, universities, and the institutions that shape taste.
The episode’s larger claim is that classical practice, sacred symbols, and demanding artistic education can challenge modern conformity and reconnect public art with excellence and historical memory.
Books & mentions
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The Golden Thread
Victor Davis Hanson’s book extends the episode’s argument about freedom, citizenship, military service, and Western cultural continuity.
Works and Days
Hesiod’s poem offers a classical source for the episode’s themes of labor, justice, and moral order.
The Counterrevolution
A related Hanson book for readers interested in his broader account of American political and cultural conflict.