Monday, December 29, 2008

Lincoln Park [Eli Bates Fountain / Storks at Play - by Augustus Saint-Gaudens ]




Eli Bates Fountain - by Augustus Saint-Gaudens 
 Also known as "Storks at Play" '

Installed: 1887

Location: The Great Garden [Lincoln Park]

The fountain is the centerpiece of one of Chicago's oldest existing gardens, The Formal Garden [Lincoln Park], dating back to 1880s. In the background is the Victorian style Lincoln Park Conservatory [built in 1890 designed by famous architect, Joespeh L. Silsbee].

Gift of Lumber merchant Eli Bates

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Eli Bates Fountain



Gift by Eli Bates 
Eli Bates, was a pioneer in the lumber business in Chicago 
He died in 1881 and in his will, he designated funds to create two sculptures:
# A fountain ... and ...
# A statue of Abraham Lincoln
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Both to be erected in the Lincoln Park. Saint-Gaudens was commissioned as sculptor for both the Lincoln statue and the fountain. Both of these sculptures were installed in 1887.















There is also a monument to Johann Christoph Friedrich von Schiller,
 "prince of poets," at the south side of the site, as seen in the image below....





3 comments:

Anonymous said...

I just looked thru a number of your "Public Art in Chicago" blog entries, and I just wanted to let you know that I am greatly impressed by your photos and your effort in collecting and presenting all your work together here. Thank you very much. - Doug Van Tol

Jyoti said...

Hi Doug,
Thank You very much for your comment. I love taking pictures and a comment like this makes it a lot more fun! I sincerely appreciate it.

Anonymous said...

Interesting that the waterfowl are actually geese, not storks. Is there another name for the Bates fountain?