Boy and Bird Fountain, (sculpture) - Boston, MA
Posted by: 
neoc1
N 42° 21.216 W 071° 04.276
19T E 329412 N 4691115
The Boy and Bird Fountain is located to the south of the Arlington Street entrance in the Boston Public Garden in Boston, MA.
Waymark Code: WMJ1WR
Location: Massachusetts, United States
Date Posted: 09/10/2013
Views: 8
A 2.5' high by 20" by 15" bronze sculpture of a small child is on top is in the center of a 5' high by 2' diameter circular granite base that is in the center of a 25' diameter recessed basin which is surrounded by about ten circular courses of bricks. The sculpture was created by Bashka Paeff and originally cast at the Roman Bronze Works and recast at the Paul King foundry. The fountain was installed at the Boston Public Garden in 1934. The figure was recast in 1977 and again in 1992.
A young nude boy is kneeling on his left leg on a rock. His left arm is outstretched and he is looking down on a finch-like bird that is perched in his palm. The sculpture is mounted within a small circular basin and pedestal. The pedestal is in the center of a 25' diameter basin which rises 6" above the ground.
Water streams out of spouts located around the bronze plinth and the rock. The water falls into the circular basin around the sculpture and overflows into the ground level basin.
TITLE: Boy and Bird Fountain, (sculpture)
ARTIST(S): Bashka Paeff, sculptor; Roman Bronze Works and Paul King Foundry
DATE: 1934
MEDIUM: bronze sculpture; granite base and basin
CONTROL NUMBER: IAS 87740048
Direct Link to the Individual Listing in the Smithsonian Art Inventory: [Web Link]
PHYSICAL LOCATION:
Boston Public Garden
DIFFERENCES NOTED BETWEEN THE INVENTORY LISTING AND YOUR OBSERVATIONS AND RESEARCH:
Boy is kneeling on his left leg.
Location of water spouts described.
Inner diameter of basin given.
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