MIT Libraries logoDome

MIT
View Item 
  • Dome Home
  • Visual Collections
  • Architecture, Urban Planning, and Visual Arts
  • View Item
  • Dome Home
  • Visual Collections
  • Architecture, Urban Planning, and Visual Arts
  • View Item
JavaScript is disabled for your browser. Some features of this site may not work without it.

Orpheus Fountain

Milles, Carl
Thumbnail
Download6A1-MC-OF-A30_cp.jpg (318.7Kb)
Alternate file
6A1-MC-OF-A30_sv.jpg (1.145Mb)
URI
http://hdl.handle.net/1721.3/171822
Date
1936-1938
Description
Detail, life-size figure of listening woman with hair in tendrils; Milles was a Swedish sculptor and professor, especially known for his fountains. In 1931 he moved to the United States and taught at the Cranbrook Academy of Art from 1931 to 1945. This fountain is a variant of one he had created in Stockholm; he removed the actual figure of Orpheus (Greek god of music); the eight life-size figures who remain are simply listening and reacting to music. This change was instigated by George Booth, founder of the campus, who wanted the sculpture to be more "democratic, equal, and American." Milles gave one of the figures the face of Beethoven. Cranbrook is known as the cradle of American Modernism; in 1989, it was designated a National Historic Landmark. Source: Cranbrook Campus Map [website]; http://cbcampusmap.weebly.com/ (accessed 7/10/2014)
Type of Work
fountain; sculpture (visual work)
Subject
allegory, human figure, mythology (Classical), Twentieth century, Modernist
Rights
© Scott Gilchrist, Archivision, Inc.
Rights Statement
Licensed for educational and research use by the MIT community only
Metadata
Show full item record

Collections
  • Architecture, Urban Planning, and Visual Arts

Browse

All of DomeCommunities & CollectionsBy Issue DateCreatorsTitlesSubjectsThis CollectionBy Issue DateCreatorsTitlesSubjects

My Account

Login
MIT Libraries
PrivacyPermissionsAccessibilityContact us
MIT
Content created by the MIT Libraries, CC BY-NC unless otherwise noted. Notify us about copyright concerns.