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