Erastus Dow Palmer (1817–1904) was born in Pompey, Onondaga County, New York, to a carpenter and his wife. He learned carpentry as a child and began working as a woodcarver and joiner by age 17. In 1846, Palmer encountered a delicately carved European cameo that inspired him to begin cameo carving himself. His first work, a portrait of his second wife Mary Jane Seaman, led to his first commission from lawyer Thomas R. Walker. That same year, Palmer traveled to New York City and began sculpting larger works, marking the start of his professional career.

In the late 1840s, Palmer’s work showed the influence of neoclassicism, the dominant aesthetic in American and European sculpture at the time. He worked in cameo and high relief before moving to sculpture in the round. His 1849 bust, Infant Ceres, garnered widespread acclaim. Palmer often sculpted family members and acquaintances in realistic form before assigning allegorical titles inspired by mythology. His style, rooted in the idealization of Ancient Greek art, aligned with contemporaries like Hiram Powers.

By the 1850s, Palmer’s Albany studio had become a hub of artistic activity. He submitted works to prestigious exhibitions, including the National Academy of Design. Though the Civil War temporarily slowed patronage, Palmer’s career continued to flourish. In 1873, the State of New York commissioned him to create a full-length bronze statue of statesman Robert R. Livingston. Palmer traveled extensively to prepare for this work, and though neoclassicism was waning, his dedication to the form remained.

Palmer died in Albany in 1904. He is remembered for blending the ideals of classical sculpture with an American sensibility, leaving a legacy that bridges European traditions and the emerging character of 19th-century American art.