Lions (Kemeys)
Lions | |
---|---|
![]() The northern sculpture in 2006 | |
![]() | |
Artist | Edward Kemeys |
Year | 1893 |
Medium | Bronze sculpture |
Subject | Lions |
Location | Chicago, Illinois, U.S. |
41°52′46.0″N 87°37′26.8″W / 41.879444°N 87.624111°W |
Lions is a pair of 1893 bronze sculptures by Edward Kemeys, installed outside of the main entrance to the Art Institute of Chicago in Chicago, Illinois. The sculptures are well-recognized public artworks.
The sculptures were commissioned by
Description
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/bf/Art_Museum_with_Lion_%28162122266%29_%281%29_%281%29.jpg/220px-Art_Museum_with_Lion_%28162122266%29_%281%29_%281%29.jpg)
The bronze sculptures[1] are modeled after African lions.[2] Each sculpture weighs more than two tons.[2][1][3] The northern sculpture weighs approximately 5,100 pounds (2,300 kg).[4] They are approximately 10 feet (3.0 m) in length.[5] Today, the sculptures have a green patina.[1] The sculptures flank the outside of the main entrance to the Art Institute of Chicago Building (home to the Art Institute of Chicago), being located along the east side of South Michigan Avenue at the road's intersection with East Adams Street in the city of Chicago in the U.S. state of Illinois.[1][5][6][7] The sculptures have occasionally been referred to as the "great protectors".[8]
The artist, Edward Kemeys, described the statues as "guarding the building."[9] Both are depicted in active poses.[10] Kemeys described the northern lion as positioned "on the prowl," and said that it "has his back up, and is ready for a roar and a spring." He described the southern lion as positioned "in an attitude of defiance" and "attracted by something in the distance which he is closely watching."[1][3][9] Kemeys referred to the design of the southern sculpture as "the most difficult I have ever attempted."[10] Kemeys was a leading figure in America's animalier arts movement. Like other artists in the animalier movement (which began in France), he studied living animals as inspiration for his works.[7]
The sculptures are often described as being
History
The bronze sculptures for the Art Institute of Chicago were commissioned by
After the board of trustees of the Art Institute of Chicago had made a decision for there to be guardian lion sculptures outside of the new museum building, the president of the board of trustees,
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/3a/Art_Institute_of_Chicago_Cloth_Masked_Lions_During_COVID_%2849839071713%29_%282%29.jpg/220px-Art_Institute_of_Chicago_Cloth_Masked_Lions_During_COVID_%2849839071713%29_%282%29.jpg)
The sculptures are regarded to be iconic features of Chicago,
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/3e/Lion_Sculpture_%2827059153322%29_%282%29.jpg/220px-Lion_Sculpture_%2827059153322%29_%282%29.jpg)
In 2015, as part of the Statue Stories Chicago public art exhibit, QR codes were installed near each of the statues. If scanned, the codes would allow the lions to "speak", with one of them being voiced by Tracy Letts and the other by Francis Guinan. Tina Landau of the Steppenwolf Theatre Company wrote a script in which the two sculptures were portrayed as "gently feuding brothers".[20] In 2018, as part of another Statue Stories of Chicago installation,[21] the sculptures were voiced by Letts and Mandy Patinkin.[2]
In 2020, the base of the northern sculpture was vandalized, with the words "inside mania"
In 1910, the sculptures were moved slightly from their original placement to new positions 12 feet (3.7 m) nearer to the museum building. They remained in place until being temporarily removed from early 2000 until 2001, being removed in order to accommodate repair work to the entrance of the building.[5] During this time, the sculptures underwent conservation work. They were removed a second time in 2022 to again undergo conservation work (cleaning and waxing).[13] A time capsule was placed after the 2001 conservation work, accompanying a much older time capsule that is also concealed by the sculptures. During the 2022 conservation work, the time capsules were temporarily removed, being returned unopened when the sculptures were reinstalled. Furthermore, the south sculpture was found to have two Indian Head cent coins underneath it, which were temporarily removed and again returned to their place underneath the sculpture when it was reinstalled.[24]
See also
References
- ^ a b c d e f g "Lion (One of a Pair, South Pedestal)". The Art Institute of Chicago. 1893. Archived from the original on 12 May 2021. Retrieved 12 May 2021.
- ^ a b c d e Hautzinger, Daniel (7 December 2018). "The Story of the Art Institute's Iconic Lions". WTTW Chicago. Archived from the original on 13 May 2021. Retrieved 13 May 2021.
- ^ a b c d e f Myers, Quinn (2 October 2019). "Ask Geoffrey: The History of the Art Institute Lions". WTTW News. Archived from the original on 12 May 2021. Retrieved 12 May 2021.
- ^ Sheridan, Jake (14 June 2022). "Art Institute Lions Head for a Steam and a Wax, Field Museum Dino Goes to Dumpster". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 23 June 2024.
- ^ a b c "Landmark Lion Gets Change Of Scenery". Chicago Tribune. 2000-02-15. Archived from the original on 2017-04-10. Retrieved 2017-04-10.
- ^ "Lions at the Art Institute of Chicago, 1894". cultureNOW. Archived from the original on April 10, 2017. Retrieved April 9, 2017.
- ^ a b c "Lions | Artwork". Chicago Park District. Retrieved 25 June 2024.
- ^ Multiple sources:
- "Art Institute Chicago Lions Temporarily Removed for Cleaning". ABC7 Chicago. 14 June 2022. Retrieved 23 June 2024.
- Liederman, Mack (10 June 2022). "Art Institute Lions Being Removed For Cleaning, But Don't Worry — They'll Be Back". Block Club Chicago. Retrieved 23 June 2024.
- ^ a b c "Lions | Chicago Park District". Chicago Park District. Archived from the original on 13 May 2021. Retrieved 13 May 2021.
- ^ a b Jones, Paul (21 November 2018). "The Lions of Michigan Avenue". www.artic.edu. Art Institute of Chicago. Archived from the original on 12 May 2021. Retrieved 12 May 2021.
- ^ "Did the Art Institute of Chicago Lions Come From the 1893 World's Fair? (Pt 1)". Chicagos 1893 Worlds Fair. 2022-07-14. Retrieved 2022-07-19.
- ^ ISBN 978-0-8139-1489-3. Archivedfrom the original on 28 May 2021. Retrieved 12 May 2021.
- ^ a b c "Art Institute Lions return to posts after deep-cleaning, "Cleaner and Greener Than Ever"". CBS News. 19 July 2022.
- ^ a b Harrington, Adam (24 November 2023). "Art Institute of Chicago's Lions Adorned With Wreaths". CBS News Chicago. Retrieved 24 June 2024.
- ^ "History". Chicago Lions Rugby. Archived from the original on 13 May 2021. Retrieved 13 May 2021.
- ^ Multiple sources:
- "Lions adorned with wreaths in annual tradition". Chicago Tribune. 28 November 2014. Retrieved 24 June 2024.
- "Art Institute of Chicago adorns iconic lions with giant wreaths in holiday tradition". ABC7 Chicago. 24 November 2023. Retrieved 24 June 2024.
- "You Know It's The Holidays When The Lions Wear Their Wreaths". CBS News Chicago. 29 November 2013. Retrieved 24 June 2024.
- ^ Kalsnes, Lynette (20 November 2010). "Art Institute's Lions Get New Twist on Traditional Wreaths". WBEZ. Retrieved 24 June 2024.
- ^ a b "Woman Charged With Vandalizing Art Institute Lion Statue". Chicago Sun-Times. 26 June 2020. Retrieved 23 June 2024.
- ^ Multiple sources:
- "Face Mask Stolen From Art Institute Lion". NBC Chicago. 1 May 2020.
- "Mask stolen from lion statue outside Chicago's Art Institute". The Associated Press. 2 May 2020. Retrieved 23 June 2024.
- ^ Johnson, Steve (5 August 2015). "If statues could talk — they might sound like David Schwimmer". Chicago Tribune.
- ^ Thometz, Kristen (18 May 2018). "30 Chicago Statues to Keep Talking Through 2020". WTTW News. Archived from the original on 13 May 2021. Retrieved 13 May 2021.
- ^ "Woman Charged With Vandalizing Art Institute Lion's Base". Chicago Tribune. 26 June 2020. Retrieved 23 June 2024.
- ^ Sruett, David (16 June 2021). "Chicago Art Institute lion Tagged With Spray Paint". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved 23 June 2024.
- ^ "Art Institute's Iconic Bronze Beasts — Now 'Shinier' — Return Home". Chicago Sun-Times. 19 July 2022. Retrieved 23 June 2024.
External links
Media related to Lions, a pair, 1894 at Wikimedia Commons