Audrey Munson: The Forgotten Supermodel

Audrey Munson, the most famous artist model in the United States, adorned dozens of buildings and memorials all over New York City. Her likeness appeared in over 30 statues at the Met and countless other sculptures. Her career skyrocketed during the Beaux-Arts style era, which required detailed ornamentation and sculptures in architecture. However, Hollywood marked the beginning of the end for Munson's career. Cast mainly as a nude model, her films were not successful, and she became embroiled in a sensational murder scandal. After her career declined, she struggled financially and suffered from depression. She passed the remainder of her life in a mental institution and eventually a nursing home.