In a recent installment of Victor Davis Hanson: In His Own Words, classical sculptor Sabin Howard and historian Victor Davis Hanson delve into questions of tradition, artistic mastery, and what lies ahead for American commemorative sculpture.
The conversation between master sculptor Sabin Howard and Victor Davis Hanson has now eclipsed 100,000 views, sparking fresh discussions on excellence, aesthetics, and the role of public art in the United States.
“My goal is to build an American Parthenon that honors our nation—and there is so much worth honoring. This work is about getting back to what humanity can achieve”— Sabin Howard, Master Sculptor
During a newly aired episode of the podcast Victor Davis Hanson: In His Own Words, classical sculptor Sabin Howard unveiled plans for his next major project: The Grand Liberty Arch. Building on the acclaim of his work at the National World War I Memorial in Washington, D.C., Howard offered a first look at his concept for an “American Parthenon” and confirmed he is moving his base of operations to Texas to make the massive bronze structure a reality.
Across a detailed 51-minute dialogue with military historian and classicist Victor Davis Hanson, Howard laid out both the philosophical underpinnings and practical steps for the venture, which seeks to push back against the emptiness of contemporary art by championing classical, story-driven monuments that honor the American “Everyman.”
Key Elements of the Grand Liberty Arch
Howard disclosed several new particulars about the planned architectural and sculptural work during the discussion:
Monumental Proportions: The arch will incorporate 56 heroic-scale bronze figures, all modeled from live subjects. Relief figures are set to measure 8 to 9 feet in height, while statues atop the arch will reach 12 feet.
Based in Texas: Howard confirmed he is moving his studio operations from Utah to the Dallas-Fort Worth region, calling Texas the “rebirth of our nation.” He is presently scouting a 1- to 2-acre property where the arch can be placed within a dedicated plaza and constitutional center.
Cost and Duration: The project is estimated to take 8 to 9 years and carry a $50 million price tag—matching the WWI Memorial budget while delivering triple the sculptural volume.
Central Theme: The arch will display the inscriptions “In God We Trust” and “E Pluribus Unum,” offering a cohesive historical story for generations to come.
“I want to make an American Parthenon to celebrate our country, and we have a lot to celebrate,” Howard told Hanson. “This is returning to what is the possibility of humanity… Michelangelo did the Sistine Chapel, the Medici tomb, and Raphael painted the Stanza della Segnatura. And look at St. Peter’s. Why should we not do things at that scale today?”
Reflecting on the World War I Memorial
The podcast also looked back at Howard’s recently finished piece, “A Soldier’s Journey.” The 60-foot bronze relief was revealed to the public on September 13, 2024, following nine and a half years of work.
To capture that effort, Howard announced a feature-length film titled Heroic: The Making of the World War I Memorial, slated for release in the first quarter of 2027. The documentary draws on daily studio footage shot over nine years by his wife, author Traci L. Slatton.
Parallel Goals for Classical Revival
Throughout the episode, Hanson and Howard found alignment in their shared classical outlook. Hanson, whose latest book Counterrevolution: The Fall and Rise of Donald Trump and the MAGA Movement examines the reaction against progressive norms, commended Howard’s commitment to anatomical accuracy and spiritual depth in a field often defined by abstract postmodernism.
Hear the full conversation on YouTube.
Direct Link: https://youtu.be/QpCZp60TDBE?si=3-RaIWJ9Tx-mCTtE
About Sabin Howard
Sabin Howard is a master classical figurative sculptor with more than four decades of experience crafting monumental art that highlights the human spirit, sacred narrative, and enduring American principles. He is widely recognized for “A Soldier’s Journey,” the 60-foot, 38-figure bronze relief at the center of the National World War I Memorial in Washington, D.C., unveiled in September 2024. Working solely from live models in the Greco-Roman and Renaissance traditions, Howard’s work rejects modernism by emphasizing empirical anatomy and heroic potential. He is now moving his studio to the Dallas-Fort Worth area to advance the Grand Liberty Arch, a 56-figure monument intended to serve as an “American Parthenon.” Additional details can be found at SabinHoward.com and GrandLibertyArch.com.
About Victor Davis Hanson
VICTOR DAVIS HANSON is the Martin and Illie Anderson Senior Fellow at the Hoover Institution and leads the Working Group on the Role of Military History in Contemporary Conflict. A scholar of ancient and modern warfare, he also offers commentary on current politics across various media. He is professor emeritus of classics at California State University, Fresno, and has served as the annual Wayne and Marcia Buske Distinguished Visiting Fellow in History at Hillsdale College since 2004. Hanson received the National Humanities Medal in 2007 from President George W. Bush and the Bradley Prize in 2008. Beyond academia, he is a farmer and an observer of agricultural and social trends. His many books include The Second World Wars: How the First Global Conflict Was Fought and Won (2017), The Case for Trump (2019), The Dying Citizen: How Progressive Elites, Tribalism, and Globalization Are Destroying the Idea of America (2021), and The End of Everything: How Wars Descend into Annihilation (2024). His most recent title, Counterculture: The Fall and Rise of Donald Trump and the MAGA Movement, was published by Basic Books in September 2026.
Media & Donation Inquiries:
For more on the project, to view the 1/10th scale model, or to support the development fund, visit GrandLibertyArch.com or SabinHoward.com. Contact: Traci Lynn Slatton traci@sabinhoward.com
Michelle Czernin von Chudenitz
Sabin Howard Studios
traci@sabinhoward.com
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Victor Davis Hanson: Modern ‘Art’ Is Eliminating Excellence with Sculptor Master Sabin Howard
