Three Dancing Maidens: Difference between revisions
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{{Short description|Sculpture by Walter Schott}} |
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{{Infobox artwork |
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| title = Three Dancing Maidens |
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| image = |
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| artist = [[Walter Schott]] |
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| year = {{start date and age|1909|paren=yes}} <!-- If after 1583 CE, use {{start date|YYYY}} --> |
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| completion_date = <!-- For a more specific date (post-1583): {{start date|YYYY|MM|DD|df=y}} --> |
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| catalogue = |
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| medium = Bronze sculpture |
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| city = [[Mecklenburg-Vorpommern|Mecklenburg]], Germany<br>[[New York City]], United States<br>[[Antwerp]], Belgium |
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| coordinates = <!-- Only use for the coordinates (when known) of the artwork itself, i.e. not for the site, building, structure, etc where it is kept, otherwise leave blank (or omit): {{coord|LAT|LON|type:landmark|display=inline,title}} --> |
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}} |
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[[File:20030705750DR Hohen Demzin Burg Schlitz Nymphenbrunnen.jpg|thumb|The sculpture in the courtyard of the Burg Schlitz Hotel, Germany]] |
[[File:20030705750DR Hohen Demzin Burg Schlitz Nymphenbrunnen.jpg|thumb|The sculpture in the courtyard of the Burg Schlitz Hotel, Germany]] |
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[[File:Untermeyer fountain2-Walter Schott.jpg|thumb|Close-up of one of the maidens]] |
[[File:Untermeyer fountain2-Walter Schott.jpg|thumb|Close-up of one of the maidens]] |
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'''''Three Dancing Maidens''''' ({{lang-de|'''Drei tanzende Mädchen'''}}) is a [[nymph]] fountain (Nymphenbrunnen) |
'''''Three Dancing Maidens''''' ({{lang-de|'''Drei tanzende Mädchen'''}}) is a [[nymph]] fountain (Nymphenbrunnen) sculpture by [[Walter Schott]]. There are three full-size versions or [[casting|castings]] of the bronze sculpture. One is known as the ''[[Untermyer Fountain]]'' in [[Central Park]] in [[New York City]], the second one is in [[Antwerp]]’s [[Den Brandt Park]], and the third one is in the courtyard of the [[Burg Schlitz Hotel]], a grand hotel in the [[Mecklenburg]] region of northern Germany. Identification of the original sculpture created for [[Rudolf Mosse]] in 1909, and later [[Nazi plunder|looted by the Nazi Party]] is the subject of research, which appears to be leading to the version in the Burg Schlitz castle.<ref name="Shaer" /> Three-quarter-scale castings, likely to be examples of the sculptor's early drafts, can be found in Germany, Austria, and Northern California. |
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==Description== |
==Description== |
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The sculpture features three life-size young women dancing in a circle, their dresses wet and clinging to their bodies.<ref name="CPNYC" /> The girls have their fingers intertwined and gleeful expressions on their faces.<ref name="Shaer" /> Dianne Durante, author of ''Outdoor Monuments of Manhattan'', |
The bronze sculpture features three life-size young women dancing in a circle, their dresses wet and clinging to their bodies.<ref name="CPNYC" /> The girls have their fingers intertwined and gleeful expressions on their faces.<ref name="Shaer" /> Dianne Durante, author of ''Outdoor Monuments of Manhattan'', wrote that "it radiates delight, in a way few sculptures match, and there isn’t any point of view that doesn’t reveal some new, graceful aspect".<ref name="Durante" /> |
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==History== |
==History== |
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===Creation=== |
===Creation=== |
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Schott began the creation of ''Three Dancing Maidens'' towards the end of the 19th century, using girls from the local Berlin area as models. After numerous sketches he made a model at three- |
Schott began the creation of ''Three Dancing Maidens'' towards the end of the 19th century, using girls from the local Berlin area as models. After numerous sketches, he made a model at a three-quarter-scale followed by 36 more attempts. Despite all the work, he was unhappy with the project until he met [[Rudolf Mosse]]. Mosse, a wealthy and influential newspaper magnate in Berlin, spoke with Schott about his desire to have a fountain on the grounds of his residence on [[Leipziger Platz]]. The {{Ill|Mosse Palais|de|Mosse-Palais (1885)}} was already home to a large collection of art and Mosse hoped to have a decorative fountain placed in the courtyard. The conversation inspired Schott who, as a perfectionist, worked on the design for several more years. The piece was finally installed in the early 1900s.<ref name="Shaer" /> |
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There are three known full |
There are three known full-size castings of the finished sculpture and several three-quarter-scale castings have also been found.<ref name="Shaer" /><ref name="Neues" /> Two additional full-size copies were cast in 2003. |
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===Ownership=== |
===Ownership=== |
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When Rudolf Mosse died in 1920 his estate passed onto his daughter Felicia and her husband [[Hans Lachmann-Mosse]], including the newspaper ''[[Berliner Tageblatt]]''. The rise to power of the [[Nazi Party]] meant that a Jewish-run media empire was not viewed favourably. In 1933 Nazi |
When Rudolf Mosse died in 1920 his estate passed onto his daughter Felicia and her husband [[Hans Lachmann-Mosse]], including the newspaper ''[[Berliner Tageblatt]]''. The rise to power of the [[Nazi Party]] meant that a Jewish-run media empire was not viewed favourably. In 1933, Nazi officer {{Ill|Wilhelm Ohst|de}} arrived at the Mosse Palais and announced the imminent auction of all the artwork, including the fountain. The family fled, and the building was turned into [[Hans Frank]]'s [[Academy for German Law]]. A photograph taken in 1940 shows the courtyard with a stone lion replacing Schott's sculpture.<ref name="Shaer" /> |
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Many pieces of [[Nazi plunder|art stolen by the Nazi Party]] have been returned to their original owners, while others have been lost. Wally Mersereau, a wealthy investor from [[Northern California]], enjoyed spending time as an amateur researcher. Around the early 2010s Mersereau visited New York, and a walk in [[Conservatory Garden]] in [[Central Park]] drew his attention to the ''[[Untermyer Fountain]]''. The plaque showed that the fountain was dedicated to [[Samuel Untermyer]] and his wife Minnie. With help from translated excerpts from Schott's memoirs Mersereau was able to track down six versions of ''Three Dancing Maidens'' including the original, two full-size casts, and three three-quarters scale versions, plus two more recent full-size reproductions.<ref name="Shaer" /> The ''Untermyer Fountain'' is one of the full size casts which was donated to the park by the children of Samuel Untermyer in 1947, having originally stood at his [[Untermyer Park|Greystone]] estate in [[Yonkers, New York]].<ref name="CPNYC" /> Mersereau made it his personal mission to find every copy of the sculpture that existed, travelling the globe to view each one. He found two other full-size versions: one in Den Brandt Park, [[Antwerp]], and the other in the courtyard of the Burg Schlitz, a hotel in [[Mecklenburg]], Germany. |
Many pieces of [[Nazi plunder|art stolen by the Nazi Party]] have been returned to their original owners, while others have been lost. Wally Mersereau, a wealthy investor from [[Northern California]], enjoyed spending time as an amateur researcher. Around the early 2010s, Mersereau visited New York City, and a walk in the [[Conservatory Garden]] in [[Central Park]] drew his attention to the ''[[Untermyer Fountain]]''. The plaque showed that the fountain was dedicated to [[Samuel Untermyer]] and his wife Minnie. With help from translated excerpts from Schott's memoirs Mersereau was able to track down six versions of ''Three Dancing Maidens'' including the original, two full-size casts, and three three-quarters scale versions, plus two more recent full-size reproductions.<ref name="Shaer" /> The ''Untermyer Fountain'' is one of the full size casts which was donated to the park by the children of Samuel Untermyer in 1947, having originally stood at his [[Untermyer Park|Greystone]] estate in [[Yonkers, New York]].<ref name="CPNYC" /> Mersereau made it his personal mission to find every copy of the sculpture that existed, travelling the globe to view each one. He found two other full-size versions: one in {{Ill|Den Brandt Park|nl|Nachtegalenpark#Den Brandt}}, [[Antwerp]], and the other in the courtyard of the {{Ill|Burg Schlitz|de}}, a hotel in [[Mecklenburg]], Germany. The one in Germany is believed to be the original but provenance is disputed. If investigations found which one was the original it may have to be returned to the Mosse family estate. The plinth on which the sculpture stands may also be the original but testing it requires permission of the owner, something he has not been keen to do.<ref name="Shaer" /> |
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There are currently three of the three-quarters size versions known from the |
There are currently three of the three-quarters size versions known from the 36 originally cast. One is in the rear garden of the [[Emil Georg von Stauss|Stauss]] Villa in [[Berlin]]-[[Dahlem (Berlin)|Dahlem]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.berlin.de/landesdenkmalamt/denkmale/highlight-denkmale-der-alliierten/usa/steglitz-zehlendorf/residenz-des-stadtkommandanten-647651.php|title=Residenz des Stadtkommandanten|publisher=Landesdenkmalamt Berlin|language=de|access-date=September 27, 2022}} </ref> Another, known as the ''[[Wurlitzer]] Fountain'', can be found in a park in [[Burlingame, California]];<ref>{{cite magazine|magazine=The Record|publisher=The Burlingame Historical Society|date=Winter 2018|issue=153|title=Something to Dance About!|page=1|url=https://burlingamehistory.files.wordpress.com/2020/03/bhso-winter-2018-.pdf|access-date=February 13, 2024}}</ref> and another in a private park in the [[Central Eastern Alps|Austrian Alps]].<ref name="Shaer" /> |
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In 2003 two additional full-size copies were cast from molds taken from the Burg Schlitz version. One is on the grounds of |
In 2003 two additional full-size copies were cast from molds taken from the Burg Schlitz version. One is on the grounds of {{Ill|Gondelsheim Castle|de|Schloss Gondelsheim}} in southwestern Germany, and the other is outside the [[E.ON]] administration building in [[Potsdam]].<ref name="Neues" /><ref name=Heinz>{{cite web |first=Heinz |last=Ney |url=https://neuesvonney.wordpress.com/2008/11/02/nicht-nur-in-potsdam-der-schottsche-nympfenbrunnen/|title=Nicht nur in Potsdam – der Schott'sche Nympfenbrunnen|publisher=Neues von Ney|language=de|date=2 November 2008|access-date=7 June 2018}}</ref> |
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<gallery> |
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|first=Matthew |
|first=Matthew |
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|publisher=[[Smithsonian (magazine)|Smithsonian]] |
|publisher=[[Smithsonian (magazine)|Smithsonian]] |
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|access-date=3 June 2018 |
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|title=Untermyer Fountain |
|title=Untermyer Fountain |
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|publisher=Central Park Conservancy |
|publisher=Central Park Conservancy |
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|access-date=3 June 2018 |
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</ref> |
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|first=Heidi |
|first=Heidi |
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|publisher=[[Neues Deutschland]] |
|publisher=[[Neues Deutschland]] |
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|access-date=3 June 2018 |
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</ref> |
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|surname=Durante |
|surname=Durante |
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|first=Dianne |
|first=Dianne |
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|date=6 April 2018 |
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|publisher=ForgottenDelights.com |
|publisher=ForgottenDelights.com |
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|access-date=3 June 2018 |
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}} |
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</ref> |
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[[Category:Bronze sculptures in Central Park]] |
[[Category:Bronze sculptures in Central Park]] |
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[[Category: |
[[Category:Sculptures of dancers]] |
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[[Category:Fountains in New York City]] |
[[Category:Fountains in New York City]] |
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[[Category:Outdoor sculptures in Manhattan]] |
[[Category:Outdoor sculptures in Manhattan]] |
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[[Category:Sculptures in Central Park]] |
[[Category:Sculptures in Central Park]] |
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[[Category:Sculptures of women in New York City]] |
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Revision as of 03:26, 29 June 2024
| Three Dancing Maidens | |
|---|---|
| Artist | Walter Schott |
| Year | 1909 |
| Medium | Bronze sculpture |
| Location | Mecklenburg, Germany New York City, United States Antwerp, Belgium |
Three Dancing Maidens (German: Drei tanzende Mädchen) is a nymph fountain (Nymphenbrunnen) sculpture by Walter Schott. There are three full-size versions or castings of the bronze sculpture. One is known as the Untermyer Fountain in Central Park in New York City, the second one is in Antwerp’s Den Brandt Park, and the third one is in the courtyard of the Burg Schlitz Hotel, a grand hotel in the Mecklenburg region of northern Germany. Identification of the original sculpture created for Rudolf Mosse in 1909, and later looted by the Nazi Party is the subject of research, which appears to be leading to the version in the Burg Schlitz castle.[1] Three-quarter-scale castings, likely to be examples of the sculptor's early drafts, can be found in Germany, Austria, and Northern California.
Description
The bronze sculpture features three life-size young women dancing in a circle, their dresses wet and clinging to their bodies.[2] The girls have their fingers intertwined and gleeful expressions on their faces.[1] Dianne Durante, author of Outdoor Monuments of Manhattan, wrote that "it radiates delight, in a way few sculptures match, and there isn’t any point of view that doesn’t reveal some new, graceful aspect".[3]
History
Creation
Schott began the creation of Three Dancing Maidens towards the end of the 19th century, using girls from the local Berlin area as models. After numerous sketches, he made a model at a three-quarter-scale followed by 36 more attempts. Despite all the work, he was unhappy with the project until he met Rudolf Mosse. Mosse, a wealthy and influential newspaper magnate in Berlin, spoke with Schott about his desire to have a fountain on the grounds of his residence on Leipziger Platz. The Mosse Palais was already home to a large collection of art and Mosse hoped to have a decorative fountain placed in the courtyard. The conversation inspired Schott who, as a perfectionist, worked on the design for several more years. The piece was finally installed in the early 1900s.[1]
There are three known full-size castings of the finished sculpture and several three-quarter-scale castings have also been found.[1][4] Two additional full-size copies were cast in 2003.
Ownership
When Rudolf Mosse died in 1920 his estate passed onto his daughter Felicia and her husband Hans Lachmann-Mosse, including the newspaper Berliner Tageblatt. The rise to power of the Nazi Party meant that a Jewish-run media empire was not viewed favourably. In 1933, Nazi officer Wilhelm Ohst arrived at the Mosse Palais and announced the imminent auction of all the artwork, including the fountain. The family fled, and the building was turned into Hans Frank's Academy for German Law. A photograph taken in 1940 shows the courtyard with a stone lion replacing Schott's sculpture.[1]
Many pieces of art stolen by the Nazi Party have been returned to their original owners, while others have been lost. Wally Mersereau, a wealthy investor from Northern California, enjoyed spending time as an amateur researcher. Around the early 2010s, Mersereau visited New York City, and a walk in the Conservatory Garden in Central Park drew his attention to the Untermyer Fountain. The plaque showed that the fountain was dedicated to Samuel Untermyer and his wife Minnie. With help from translated excerpts from Schott's memoirs Mersereau was able to track down six versions of Three Dancing Maidens including the original, two full-size casts, and three three-quarters scale versions, plus two more recent full-size reproductions.[1] The Untermyer Fountain is one of the full size casts which was donated to the park by the children of Samuel Untermyer in 1947, having originally stood at his Greystone estate in Yonkers, New York.[2] Mersereau made it his personal mission to find every copy of the sculpture that existed, travelling the globe to view each one. He found two other full-size versions: one in Den Brandt Park, Antwerp, and the other in the courtyard of the Burg Schlitz, a hotel in Mecklenburg, Germany. The one in Germany is believed to be the original but provenance is disputed. If investigations found which one was the original it may have to be returned to the Mosse family estate. The plinth on which the sculpture stands may also be the original but testing it requires permission of the owner, something he has not been keen to do.[1]
There are currently three of the three-quarters size versions known from the 36 originally cast. One is in the rear garden of the Stauss Villa in Berlin-Dahlem.[5] Another, known as the Wurlitzer Fountain, can be found in a park in Burlingame, California;[6] and another in a private park in the Austrian Alps.[1]
In 2003 two additional full-size copies were cast from molds taken from the Burg Schlitz version. One is on the grounds of Gondelsheim Castle in southwestern Germany, and the other is outside the E.ON administration building in Potsdam.[4][7]
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The Untermyer Fountain in New York. -
The fountain in Den Brandt Park, Antwerp. -
The fountain at the Burg Schlitz. -
A copy at Gondelsheim Castle.
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h Shaer, Matthew (June 2018). "The Lost Maidens of Berlin". Smithsonian. Retrieved 3 June 2018.
- ^ a b "Untermyer Fountain". Central Park Conservancy. Retrieved 3 June 2018.
- ^ Durante, Dianne (6 April 2018). "Untermeyer Fountain". ForgottenDelights.com. Retrieved 3 June 2018.
- ^ a b Diehl, Heidi (4 August 2007). "Drei tanzende Mädchen mit Zahnbelag" (in German). Neues Deutschland. Retrieved 3 June 2018.
- ^ "Residenz des Stadtkommandanten" (in German). Landesdenkmalamt Berlin. Retrieved 27 September 2022.
- ^ "Something to Dance About!" (PDF). The Record. No. 153. The Burlingame Historical Society. Winter 2018. p. 1. Retrieved 13 February 2024.
- ^ Ney, Heinz (2 November 2008). "Nicht nur in Potsdam – der Schott'sche Nympfenbrunnen" (in German). Neues von Ney. Retrieved 7 June 2018.
