The Fountain of the Muses
Bronze sculptures by Carl Milles

The Fountain of the Muses
Bronze sculptures by Carl Milles
This fountain group consists of eight major figures and seven secondary figures, modeled in a studio at the American Academy at Rome. The work was commissioned by the trustees of the Metropolitan museum of Art in 1949 and the casting of the final figures were completed and delivered just six months before the sculptors death in 1955. The group was cast by Bearzi Foundry in Florence, Italy.

Carl Milles expressed his personal interpretation of the fountain in a document written just three weeks before his death:

"Each artist carries his symbol with him:
The Poete - the blue bird.
The Architect his new formed column.
The Musician his old interesting instrument.
The Painter - here represented by Eugene Delacroix - his flowers.
The Sculptor is reaching for his gift from the Gods - as the Painter and the Musician have not yet grasped their symbols - These gifts from their Gods are just coming - These artists feel them and grasp for them.

Behind these running artists are:
The Goddess Aganippe waving good wishes to the artists, and in the same time playing with a fish below in the water.
A centaur has dressed up to mirroring himself in the water - on the other side is a faune taking musical lessons from a bird.

Carl Milles

The jets from the fishes have to come as high as possible
Sept. 1955"

The Fountain of the Muses was purchased from The Metropolitan Museum Museum of Art on December 6, 1982.

Carl Milles
Born near Uppsala, Sweden on June 23, 1875.
Carl Milles did not set foot upon the American shore until he was 59 years old, yet he was an important figure in American sculpture. Marked by an impish sense of humor and a love of satire, his work presented his personal philosophy: life was to be enjoyed. This joy of life was expressed in sculpture having great movement and motion that spoke of human warmth and spiritual hope. Water was a key element in the expression of this work. The Orpheus Fountain in front of the Opera House in Stockholm and the Poseidon Fountain at Gothenburg were among his finest creations.

All images on this sculpting site were photographed, scanned and edited by Rod and Gail Lang. Information is obtained from "Brookgreen Gardens Sculpture" Volumes I and II. To obtain a copy of these magnificent books which provide photos and detail on hundreds of sculptures in Brookgreen Gardens call the gardens at 843-237-4218.