MOOSE AT THE FOUNTAIN

 

This post came about thanks to Tundra Bunny, in a comment last week on a moose statue in a photo I took recently on a Philly weekend jaunt. It got me going back to look at photos I'd taken of this landmark over the years. Since there has been a lot of discussion in recent years with statues in public spaces, with some statues coming down through formal and informal means, here are some of the photos of the George Washington Monument in Eakins Oval. One of my favorite fountains and art sculptures in Philadelphia. This monument is especially complex, and has evocative, allegorically rich and often lifelike figures in it, this monument in Philly, is located at the base of the Art Museum steps. Anyone who's spent time in Philly probably knows this place and fountain and monument very well, with its swirl of animal and human figures enveloping the high up equestrian statue of George Washington.

The monument and fountain were commissioned and design by sculptor Rudolf Siemering. The sculpture was dedicated in 1897 at the entrance of Fairmount Park and then moved in 1928 to its present location after the completion of the Benjamin Franklin Parkway in town. The bronze and granite sculpture features a uniformed Washington mounted on a horse at the tip top and facing southeast down the Ben Franklin Parkway towards City Hall. The face of the sculpture was made from actual impressions of the former president. made while he was in Philly for a stopover.  The lower levels of the fountain feature two Native Americans, two Europeans, and animals that are native to the United States. There are moose, bison, deer, cow, bear, eagles, a serpent, some Koi fish and even a salamander.

The scheme of the fountain asserts a hierarchy...although I find it interesting that the sculptor had two European figures and two native American figures all on the same level of beauty and detail. All the figures are done very well and all equally gorgeous and lifelike.

The southeast side of the pedestal, facing the parkway has a female figure on the next level up, apparently representing liberty.

I have always enjoyed the fountain in Philly, one of my favorites. And when there is a nice breeze it's nice feeling the little bit of mist hit you on a hot day.  It also occurred to me from a distance, the monument draws attention to Washington as the main figure. But up close while always wandering and photographing the monument, I found myself forgetting about the Washington statue completely. It wasn't till that hawk landed that I was reminded of him up there. The main features up close are the animals and allegorical figures. I wonder if this was likely the sculptor's intent, because the sight line within the monument complex do not allow you to look up and see Washington himself, if you are looking from a spot inside of the complex. I feel the sculptor seems to want us to examine and admire these figures more and ultimately relate to the artwork at this level, rather than Washington himself, who seems to be over seeing a new America..