Hebe, Cupbearer to the Gods, (sculpture).

Hebe, Cupbearer to the Gods, (sculpture).

Unknown, sculptor.

Cook, James B., 1826-1909, architect.

Murray, A. J., engineer.

Canova, Antonio, 1757-1822, sculptor. (copy after)

Lemon, H., fabricator.

J.L. Mott Iron Works, founder.

Frank Hubert Venn Associates, contractor.

Hebe, Cupbearer to the Gods, (sculpture).

Hebe Fountain, (sculpture).

Court Square Fountain, (sculpture).

1876 (?). Dedicated May 27, 1876. Rededicated Sept. 11, 1980.

Sculpture: cast iron, lead, zinc, and aluminum, painted; Base: granite and concrete.

Overall: approx. H. 20 ft.; Granite basin: approx. Diam. 35 ft. (7,000 lbs.).

(On front of fountain:) This fountain/erected A.D. 1876 and donated to the City of Memphis, May 27 A.D. 1876/By James Elder/with the aid and assistance of the following persons:/S. C. Toof Elias Lowenstein/Jno.E. Randle J. C. Neely/John Gaston S. R. Clarke (On front of fountain perimeter:) Anderson Venn and Co. Marble and Granite Monuments, Statuary & C. (On back of fountain perimeter:) James B. Cook/Arch (Around perimeter of the ten-sided fountain basin are the names of contributors of transportation, materials and labor).

(Plaque on front of fountain, right side:) Electric illumination in memory of Thomas A. Edison/sponsored by the Good Earth Garden Club/Mrs. P. Avila McPhillips, President, May 1949. (On front of fountain, left side:) Restoration and illumination of this fountain/By Memphis Light, Gas & Water Division/City of Memphis, 1949 (On back, of fountain, on ground:) Plumbing By J. W. X. Brown/1876 (On front of fountain, directly below sculpture:) Restored by/Robinson Iron Corp./Fountain sculpt. Alexander City, AL Founder's mark appears.

A large fountain consisting of a two-tiered cast iron structure topped by a standing figure of Hebe, the Greek goddess of youth and cupbearer of the gods. Hebe wears a long skirt which appears to be tied at the waist. She is nude from the waist up and wears her hair in a chignon. Her proper right arm is raised and she holds a small pitcher in her proper right hand. She pours water into the cup she holds in her proper left hand. Beneath Hebe is a second, larger cast iron basin. Under the first basin are four putti, one in each of the cardinal directions. They appear to be drinking from horn shaped vessels.

Beneath the second basin, around a central stem, are four putti and two swans with outstretched wings. The putti are disrobing as if about to take a swim in the fountain. Two are seated and two are standing. The cast iron basins have scalloped edges and are decorated with floral and scroll designs. At the bottom is a large ten-sided granite basin with cast iron embellishments around the outer wall. Around the fountain is a wrought iron fence which follows the outlines of the granite basin. Eight granite urns alternate with fence sections.

Mythology -- Classical -- Hebe

Figure female -- Full length

Recreation -- Leisure -- Bathing

Animal -- Bird -- Swan

Outdoor Sculpture -- Tennessee -- Memphis

Administered by City of Memphis, Memphis Park Commission, Park Maintenance Division, 2599 Avery Avenue, Memphis, Tennessee 38112

Located Court Square, Between Second & Main Streets, Memphis, Tennessee

Inscription on nearby historical marker reads: The Hebe Fountain, erected here in/1876, has become the most familiar/symbol of changing Memphis. IAS files contain complete transcription of historical marker text and inscriptions on fountain basin perimeter.

Figure of Hebe is a copy after Antonio Canova; fountain was cast by J. L. Mott Iron Works; James B. Cook served as the architect who designed Memphis Court Square; A. J. Murray was the engineer; H. Lemon was the mason; Anderson, Venn & Company Marble and Granite Monuments, Statuary & C., supplied the stone for the fountain basin.

In 1885, a small boy fell into the pool of this fountain and drowned. As a result, the water level was lowered and a fence put up around the pool. In 1932, a movement was started by the Artist's Guild to remove the fountain from Court Square, but their efforts did not succeed. In 1942, the figure of Hebe was refurbished and multi-colored lights were added to the fountain. Sometime in 1942, the statue was toppled in a wind storm, put in storage and in 1949 re-erected after restoration efforts. In 1957, the fish in the basin were changed from goldfish to catfish, but so many catfish were stolen that fish were taken out of the fountain altogether. In 1980, the fountain was taken apart, repaired and rededicated. Parts of the sculpture may have been recast at this time, with aluminum replacing much of the original zinc.

IAS files contain related articles from Commercial Appeal (Memphis, TN), Jan. 1, 1940; April 8, 1949; June 12, 1949; Dec. 23, 1973; April 19, 1976; and July 27, 1979. IAS files also contain articles from the Press Scimitar (Memphis, TN), Aug. 8, 1980 and May 10, 1949; an excerpt from a booklet on the 1980 restoration, and an excerpt from Eugene J. Johnson & Robert D. Russell, Jr., "Memphis: An Architectural Guide," (Knoxville, Univ. of Tenn. Press, 1990), pg. 20.

Save Outdoor Sculpture, Tennessee survey, 1992.

Commercial Appeal (Memphis, TN) Jan. 1, 1940.

Commercial Appeal (Memphis, TN) April 19, 1976.

Commercial Appeal (Memphis, TN), June 12, 1949.

Commercial Appeal (Memphis, TN), Dec. 23, 1973.

Commercial Appeal (Memphis, TN), July 27, 1979.

Press Scimitar (Memphis, TN), April 29, 1949.

Press Scimitar (Memphis, TN), May 10, 1949.

Press Scimitar (Memphis, TN), Aug. 27, 1980.

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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