Man Helping Man, (sculpture).

Man Helping Man, (sculpture).

McVey, William, 1905- , sculptor.

Cutting, Malcolm, architect.

Mengel Art Foundry, founder.

Man Helping Man, (sculpture).

Cleveland Clinic Fountain, (sculpture).

Henry S. Sherman Memorial, (sculpture).

Commissioned Dec. 1973. Cast 1974. Dedicated May 19, 1974. Relocated autumn 1974.

Digital Reference:

Sculpture: bronze, green patina; Base: bronze; Reflecting pool: granite.

Sculpture: approx. H. 7 ft. 4 in.

(On bronze plaques behind water jets:) Better Care of the Sick/Further Study of Their Problems/More Teaching of Those Who Serve

Placed in the center of a circular fountain reflecting pool is a bronze sculpture that depicts a kneeling male figure holding another male figure in his arms. The figures are nude and their bodies are very lean with simple detailing of features. The figures rest atop a tripod-shaped base above the fountain water. Both the figures and the base have a green patina. Around the outside edge of the fountain reflecting pool are three water jets that spray water toward the center of the pool, just under the base of the sculpture. Behind each water jet is a stone slab with a bronze inscription plaque on the front.

Figure group -- Male

Allegory -- Quality -- Charity

Outdoor Sculpture -- Ohio -- Cleveland

Administered by Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Architectural Department, 9500 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio 44146

Located Cleveland Clinic, 9500 Euclid Avenue, Central courtyard of the Cleveland Clinic complex, Cleveland, Ohio 44146

The Architectural Department at the Cleveland Clinic and Malcolm Cutting, the Architect in Residence, were responsible for the detailing and engineering of the fountain reflecting pool, which was part of the artist's basic concept. Initially, the sculpture was temporarily sited on the lawn area of the new Cleveland Clinic Hospital until the fountain reflecting pool and landscaping were completed. The memorial was funded by the Board of Trustees in memory of Henry S. Sherman, former Trustee, President of the Cleveland Clinic Foundation, and Chairman of the Board. IAS files contain a photocopy of the dedication program and an article from The Clinic News (Oct.-Nov. 1974): pg. 1-3.

Inscription on nearby plaque reads: The Henry S. Sherman Memorial/MAN HELPING MAN/Dedicated to the three principles/of the physicians who founded/the Cleveland Clinic in 1921:/Frank E. Bunts, George W. Crile,/William E. Lower, John Phillips/In honor of Henry S. Sherman/Member of the Board of Trustees 1936-1956/President 1940-1943, Chairman 1943-1945/Presented May 18, 1974 by/The Board of Trustees/The Cleveland Clinic Foundation/Sculptor: William M. McVey.

Lybarger, Helen Baldwin, "A Survey of Public Monuments in Cleveland," Cleveland, OH: Early Settlers Assoc. of Cleveland & the Western Reserve, 1979. (booklet)

Save Outdoor Sculpture, Ohio, Cleveland survey, 1993.

The information provided about this artwork was compiled as part of the Smithsonian American Art Museum's Inventories of American Painting and Sculpture database, designed to provide descriptive and location information on artworks by American artists in public and private collections worldwide.

Inventories of American Painting and Sculpture, Smithsonian American Art Museum, P.O. Box 37012, MRC 970, Washington, D.C. 20013-7012

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