Fact and Fable - Helsinki, Finland - Figurative Public Sculpture on Waymarking.com

ABOUT THE MEMORIAL:

The following information about the memorial is from the Taide Museo website (visit link) :

"In 1928 a competition was arranged for a memorial to Zacharias Topelius. The competition was won by Gunnar Finne's with his entry 'Fact and Fable', which was later unveiled in 1932.

'Fact and Fable' consists of two allegorical female figures: 'Fact' with the flame of truth on her palm, and 'Fable' with the crown-headed bird of fable resting on her fingers. The figures face opposite directions: 'Fact' looks down the Esplanadi park while 'Fable's' gaze is turned to the sidewalk off Pohjoisesplanadi'. The figures are formed in a way which accents non-material features, and the imagery is refined and pure. The aim has been to create an illusory atmosphere in both the maidens' figures and in the balancing composition.

'Fact and Fable' inspired much heated debate at the time of winning the competition, which was not without a political dimension involving the question of the relationship between the nation's two languages, Finnish and Swedish. Finne's proposal was a considerable disappointment to those who expected a memorial which would correspond to the realistic spirit of the author's own times. This is why Maila Talvio initiated a plan for another sculpture which sought to have Ville Vallgren's work 'Topelius as a storyteller' from 1909 cast in bronze and unveiled before the unveiling of Finne's work.

'Fact and Fable' had been commissioned by the Society of Swedish Literature in Finland but Vallgren's work was financed by donations from the public. Even schools and school children were recruited to sell postcards depicting Vallgren's works. As a result, Vallgren's piece 'Topelius and the children' was unveiled six months before 'Fact and Fable' in 1932.

'Fact and Fable' is cast in bronze and its pedestal is granite. The female figures are approximately 1.8 metres and the pedestal 1.4 metres high. The pedestal contains the text 'Zacharias Topelius' and a portrait medallion of the author."

ABOUT THE MAN:

"Zachris Topelius (14 January 1818 – 12 March 1898) was a Swedish-speaking Finnish author, journalist, historian, and rector of the University of Helsinki who wrote novels related to Finnish history in Swedish.

Name or use 'Unknown' if not known: Fact and Fable Figure Type: Human Artist Name or use 'Unknown' if not known: Gunnar Finne Date created or placed or use 'Unknown' if not known: 1932 Materials used: Bronze (statue) and granite (pedestal) Location: Esplanadi Park

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Recent Visits/Logs:

Date Logged Log User Rating   03/07/2024 lenkelj visited it 06/16/2023 Paulaho visited it 03/19/2023 anna.s visited it 01/14/2023 milde04 visited it 10/03/2022 thaikama visited it 11/18/2021 seppo54 visited it 11/06/2021 SammenKarhu visited it 09/30/2021 davidb11 visited it 08/31/2021 pode53 visited it 07/12/2021 Smurffaaja visited it 07/21/2020 makkara 1974 visited it 02/13/2020 BomBomBom visited it 08/11/2019 suprasami visited it 07/12/2019 Retale81 visited it 05/15/2018 SMacB visited it 02/24/2018 vikiki1 visited it 04/04/2017 juhanili visited it 12/30/2016 Salme Maijala visited it 05/21/2016 aurorat visited it 02/28/2016 Jouni Jurmu visited it 02/18/2016 Maglord visited it 01/19/2016 pattipolvi visited it 01/08/2016 Lanberg visited it 12/21/2015 perttiv visited it 12/06/2015 veehoo74 visited it

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