Alma Mater Group - Urbana, IL - Smithsonian Art Inventory Sculptures on Waymarking.com

Lorado Taft (1860 - 1936) was a famous sculptor who was an alumni of the University of Illinois. Although many of his works are in Illinois, he also had many commissions for statues, sculptures, and fountains throughout the United States, including Louisiana, Colorado, Washington, Nebraska, New York, North Carolina, and Oklahoma.

From the dedication photo at (visit link)

It looks like Alma Mater was originally located behind the Foellinger Auditorium.

Learn more about Lorado Taft at University of Illinois at (visit link)

From the Arts Inventory site:
Inscription: (Lower proper left side of bronze:) LORADO TAFT. Sc. 1929 (Lower proper right side of bronze:) American Art Bronze Fdry (three small triangles) 1929/Jules Bercham and Son. Chicago (one small triangle) (Bronze plaque base front:) ALMA MATER, CONCEIVED IN 1922/BY LORADO TAFT, A GRADUATE OF/THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS IN/1879, WAS FORMALLY PRESENTED/AT COMMENCEMENT IN 1929. ORIG-/INALLY PLACED SOUTH OF THE/AUDITORIUM, THE SCULPTURE WAS/RELOCATED AUGUST 22, 1962 ON/THIS SITE BY THE UNIVERSITY OF/ILLINOIS ALUMNI ASSOCIATION. (Base front:) ALMA MATER/TO THY HAPPY CHILDREN/OF THE FUTURE/THOSE OF THE PAST/SEND GREETINGS (Base proper left:) HER CHILDREN ARISE UP/AND CALL HER BLESSED/PROVERBS 31 . 28 (Base proper right:) GIVEN TO THE UNIVERSITY/BY THE SCULPTOR/THE ALUMNI FUND/AND THE SENIOR CLASSES OF/1923 . 1924 . 1925 . 1926/1927 . 1928 . 1929 signed Founder's mark appears.
Description: A group of three figures and an armchair. The center front figure, Alma Mater, is a standing female wearing an academic robe. Her arms are outstretched at chest height, with her palms open. The chair is directly behind her. The proper right figure, Labor in back, is a male wearing a blacksmith's apron. His proper right arm is extended over the chair in a handshake with the female to his proper left. His proper left hand rests on the chair back. A sheaf of plans or drawings is behind the legs. The proper left figure, Learning is a model of the Lemnia Athena, a female in a classical gown with a sun bas-relief on front. Her proper left arm is flexed with her hand on her hip. Her proper right arm extends across the chair in a handshake with the proper left male. The armchair has a bas-relief seal of the State of Illinois on the back, visible only from behind. The chair legs have paw feet.

See also nearby Taft sculpture waymarks WM4378 & WM43T7.

TITLE: Alma Mater Group ARTIST(S): Taft, Lorado Zadoc, 1860-1936, sculptor. DATE: Modeled 1922. Cast 1929. Dedicated June 12, 1929. MEDIUM: Bronze on a granite base. CONTROL NUMBER: IAS IL000409 Direct Link to the Individual Listing in the Smithsonian Art Inventory: [Web Link] PHYSICAL LOCATION: near the corner of Green St. & Wright St. in front of Altgeld Hall DIFFERENCES NOTED BETWEEN THE INVENTORY LISTING AND YOUR OBSERVATIONS AND RESEARCH: none

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