(Hebe Fountain), (sculpture)

Smithsonian American Art Museum and its Renwick Gallery

Object Details

founder
J.L. Mott Iron Works
Save Outdoor Sculpture, Wisconsin survey, 1993.
Mirror Gazette (Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin), July 16, 1898.
Image on file.
(Rear of base:) THE J.L. MOTT/IRON WORKS.N.Y. (Plaque on front of base:) DEDICATED TO/MINNIE DRINKER SNIDER/AND/FRED B. SNIDER./LIKE A CUP OF COLD WATER TO FEVERED LIPS IS/A CHEERFUL, UNSELFISH LIFE IN THIS BUSY WORLD./TO TWO SUCH LIVES, WHICH FOUND HAPPINESS/IN KINDNESS, TO EVERY LIVING CREATURE, THIS/MEMORIAL IS A TRIBUTE/ERECTED JUNE 1898. Founder's mark appears.
The information provided about this artwork was compiled as part of the Smithsonian American Art Museum's Inventories of American Painting and Sculpture database, designed to provide descriptive and location information on artworks by American artists in public and private collections worldwide.
Summary
Statue depicting Hebe, goddess of youth, stands on a square base which in turn rests on an octagonal fountain. The cup held in her proper left hand is raised to shoulder level; she gazes at it, while she holds a pitcher at her side in her proper right hand. Her proper left knee is bent. Square base beneath statue has text on front and is decorated with bosses and miniature columns. Each side of the octagonal fountain had a gargoyle spout (possibly dolphin heads; some now missing). Water basins (two large, possibly six small) are mounted to the fountain beneath the spouts.
Installed June 1898. Dedicated July 1898
Control number
IAS WI000007
Type
Sculptures-Fountain
Sculptures-Outdoor Sculpture
Sculptures
Medium
Sculpture: metal and stone; Base: metal, painted
Owner/Location
Administered by City of Wisconsin Dells City Hall 300 LaCrosse Wisconsin Dells Wisconsin 53965
Located 429 Broadway Wisconsin Dells Wisconsin
Art Inventories Catalog, Smithsonian American Art Museums
Topic
Mythology--Classical--Hebe
Figure female--Full length
Object--Other--Dish
Homage--Snider, Minnie Drinker
Homage--Snider, Fred B
Fantasy--Monster
Animal--Dolphin
Architecture exterior--Detail--Gargoyle
Record ID
siris_ari_316029
Metadata Usage (text)
Usage conditions apply