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Models for the Fountain of the Four Seasons
Models for the Fountain of the Four Seasons
Models for the Fountain of the Four Seasons

Models for the Fountain of the Four Seasons

Object NameSculptures
Artist / Maker (Danish - American, 1885 - 1961)
Date1940
OriginU.S.A.
MediumPlaster
Dimensions40 × 24 × 22 3/4 in. (101.6 × 61 × 57.8 cm) 38 × 24 × 22 in. (96.5 × 61 × 55.9 cm) 40 × 24 × 24 in. (101.6 × 61 × 61 cm)
ClassificationsArt on Campus Preparatory Studies and Maquettes
Credit LineGift of Friends of the University Museums. Partial funding for conservation by Mary Alice and Bill Reinhardt, Jr. In the Art on Campus Preparatory Studies and Maquette Collection, Christian Petersen Art Museum, University Museums, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa.
Object numberU89.26abcd
Status
On view
Collections
Label TextIn 1940, Iowa State President Charles Friley directed Christian Petersen to create a sculpture to be placed in the Memorial Union reflecting pool. WIthin two days Petersen created concept drawings inspired from an Osage chant: Lo, I come to the tender planting. Lo, a tender shoot breaks forth. Lo, I collect the golden harvest. Lo, there is joy in my house. After Friley approved the drawings and a miniature model, Petersen created full-scale plaster models of the maidens. These were trucked to the national cornhusking championships in Davenport in the fall of 1940, where they received wide public approval. By May 1941, Petersen had carved and chiseled the final four maidens from Bedford limestone and installed them around a new fountainhead in the Union's pool. Since the 1960s the plaster models have been in storage. The maiden planting the corn seed is not included in this exhibition, because of its broken condition. All of these maidens are in need of future conservation. In 1995, the University Museums undertook the conservation of the "Fountain of the Four Seasons", including the maidens carved in Bedford limestone and the reflecting pool.
Published ReferencesQuad-City Times (Davenport, Iowa), Oct. 26, 1940; The Daily Times (Davenport, Iowa), Oct. 29, 1940; Wallace’s Farmer and Iowa Homestead, Oct. 19, 1940; Ames Daily Tribune, Feb. 10, 1941.
Locations
  • (not entered)  Iowa State University, Curtiss Hall
Fountain of the Four Seasons
Object Name: Sculpture, fountain and pool
Fountain of the Four Seasons
Christian Petersen
1941
Object number: U88.69
Fountain of the Four Seasons
Object Name: Photograph
Fountain of the Four Seasons
George Christensen
Object number: U2017.204
University Museums, Iowa State University prohibits the copying or reproduction in any medium o ...
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Object Name: Sculpture
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Object number: U88.66
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Object Name: Photograph
MU Fountain
George Christensen
1998-1999
Object number: U2017.223
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Object Name: Photograph
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Broken Eggs
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Object Name: Desk
Seasons
Sarah Grant
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Object Name: Sculpture
Cornhusker
Christian Petersen
1941
Object number: UM99.329