Orpheus Fountain
Creator: Carl Milles
Date: 1936-1937
Medium: water feature with bronze sculptures
Notes: The Orpheus Fountain is an iconic feature on the Cranbrook campus. The original fountain was sculpted for the Concert Hall in Stockholm, Sweden. In the original, Orpheus, the Greek god of music, is surrounded by eight figures, all reacting differently to his music.
George Booth wanted the sculpture for the Cranbrook campus, but did not want it to include Orpheus. He felt the character of Orpheus was too much of a 'supreme character' and his presence would alter the mood of the sculpture. In myth, Orpheus is an evil character and Booth wanted to promote the fountain and the campus as 'democratic, equal, and American'. Therefore, he bought the pieces of the original sculpture he wanted and brought them back to Michigan. Booth, along with Milles and Saarinen, placed the fountain on axis with the Europa and the Bull sculpture, the Triton Pools, and Nichols Gate.
The Orpheus Fountain features eight life-size figures. Of the figures, Milles remarked, "The eight figures in the fountain are not symbolic. They are just people listening to music. The only real figure is Beethoven." The eight figures are as follows:
Standing Female Figure - young girl with bobbed hair stands on left foot with head turned to left and two hands raised to shoulder height, palms out - listening gesture.
Standing Female Figure - girl standing on right foot, looking downward, head turned slightly left, hands are both held to her head, with left hand she holds a strand of long, wavy hair.
Standing Male Figure - standing on right foot, head turned upward toward right - in hands holds a bird, with left he stills its singing.
Standing Male Figure - standing on left foot, head turned slightly to left, hands raised toward his face, palms out, in listening attitude.
Standing Female Figure - standing on right foot, body swaying gracefully toward right - hands hung by side, right hand has dropped a flower, hair is long and tress hangs at each side of face.
Standing Female Figure - standing on left foot, head thrown back with eyes closed and tears on cheeks, hands raised toward her head in listening attitude.
Standing Male Figure - standing on right foot, head thrown back and arms raised in powerful gesture above head. Body is muscular and powerful. Milles has given him the face of Beethoven.
Standing Female Figure - both feet on foliage cluster, hands are hanging, one at side and other in front of body, head turned to right.
Links:
Orpheus Fountain in Cranbrook Digital Archives
Date: 1936-1937
Medium: water feature with bronze sculptures
Notes: The Orpheus Fountain is an iconic feature on the Cranbrook campus. The original fountain was sculpted for the Concert Hall in Stockholm, Sweden. In the original, Orpheus, the Greek god of music, is surrounded by eight figures, all reacting differently to his music.
George Booth wanted the sculpture for the Cranbrook campus, but did not want it to include Orpheus. He felt the character of Orpheus was too much of a 'supreme character' and his presence would alter the mood of the sculpture. In myth, Orpheus is an evil character and Booth wanted to promote the fountain and the campus as 'democratic, equal, and American'. Therefore, he bought the pieces of the original sculpture he wanted and brought them back to Michigan. Booth, along with Milles and Saarinen, placed the fountain on axis with the Europa and the Bull sculpture, the Triton Pools, and Nichols Gate.
The Orpheus Fountain features eight life-size figures. Of the figures, Milles remarked, "The eight figures in the fountain are not symbolic. They are just people listening to music. The only real figure is Beethoven." The eight figures are as follows:
Standing Female Figure - young girl with bobbed hair stands on left foot with head turned to left and two hands raised to shoulder height, palms out - listening gesture.
Standing Female Figure - girl standing on right foot, looking downward, head turned slightly left, hands are both held to her head, with left hand she holds a strand of long, wavy hair.
Standing Male Figure - standing on right foot, head turned upward toward right - in hands holds a bird, with left he stills its singing.
Standing Male Figure - standing on left foot, head turned slightly to left, hands raised toward his face, palms out, in listening attitude.
Standing Female Figure - standing on right foot, body swaying gracefully toward right - hands hung by side, right hand has dropped a flower, hair is long and tress hangs at each side of face.
Standing Female Figure - standing on left foot, head thrown back with eyes closed and tears on cheeks, hands raised toward her head in listening attitude.
Standing Male Figure - standing on right foot, head thrown back and arms raised in powerful gesture above head. Body is muscular and powerful. Milles has given him the face of Beethoven.
Standing Female Figure - both feet on foliage cluster, hands are hanging, one at side and other in front of body, head turned to right.
Links:
Orpheus Fountain in Cranbrook Digital Archives