Spirit of the Waters

Founder Cast by Gorham Manufacturing Company American

1913; cast 1931 or after

On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 766

Many of French’s public monuments feature allegorical female figures representing abstract concepts such as life, death, and victory. In 1913 he was commissioned to create a memorial fountain to financier Spencer Trask (1844–1909) for Congress Park in Saratoga Springs, New York. In this small preliminary sketch, the partially draped winged woman serenely symbolizes the fluidity of water. For the final work, French raised the figure’s arms over her head, producing a more buoyant and joyful interpretation titled The Spirit of Life.

Artwork Details

Overview

Signatures, Inscriptions, and Markings

Provenance

Title: Spirit of the Waters
Artist: Daniel Chester French (American, Exeter, New Hampshire 1850–1931 Stockbridge, Massachusetts)
Founder: Cast by Gorham Manufacturing Company (American, Providence, Rhode Island, 1831–present)
Date: 1913; cast 1931 or after
Geography: Made in United States
Culture: American
Medium: Bronze
Dimensions: 11 1/8 x 8 1/2 x 4 in. (28.3 x 21.6 x 10.2 cm)
Credit Line: Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Donald J. Douglass, 2017
Object Number: 2017.655
Curatorial Department: The American Wing

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