Carl von Linne, (sculpture).

Carl von Linne, (sculpture).

Dyfverman, Karl Johan, 1844-1892, sculptor.

Otto Meyer & Komp., founder.

Carl von Linne, (sculpture).

Carolus Linnaeus, (sculpture).

March 14, 1889. Dedicated May 23, 1891. Relocated 1976.

Sculpture: bronze; Base: granite.

Sculpture: approx. H. 15 ft. W. 4 ft.; Base: approx. 16 x 25 x 25 ft.

(Base, bottom front is the Swedish king's signature:) Carl Gustaf/RELOCATED FROM LINCOLN PARK 1976/REDEDICATED BY THE KING OF SWEDEN/CARL XVI GUSTAF April 19, 1976 (Base, bottom left side:) ERECTED BY SWEDISH AMERICANS 1891 (On bronze base of sculpture, front:) OTTO MEYER & KOMP. FUD. HOLMIA MDCCCXC (On bronze base of sculpture:) C. J. DYFVERMAN fecit MDCCCLXXXIX signed Founder's mark appears.

The Swedish botanist known to science as Carolus Linneaus (1707-1778) is depicted wearing the national costume he is said to have worn on his wanderings through the Swedish countryside--a cape over a jacket, vest and ruffled neck shirt. In his proper left hand he holds a book representing the almost 180 works he published and a flower, the Linnaea borealis, which he discovered and named. The statue stands atop a tall granite pedestal surrounded by four now empty projecting platforms. The platforms once held four allegorical female figures which represented either the four branches of science or the four seasons. These figures may have been made of zinc. Linne is credited with defining the principles for determining genus and species and for being the first to employ a system for naming plants and animals. He chose the name Carl von Linne after being awarded a title in 1761.

Portrait male -- Linne, Carl von -- Full length

Occupation -- Science -- Botanist

Occupation -- Science -- Naturalist

Ethnic -- Swedish

Dress -- Ethnic -- Swedish Dress

Object -- Flower

Object -- Written Matter -- Book

Outdoor Sculpture -- Illinois -- Chicago

Administered by Chicago Park District, Preservation Planning Division, 425 East McFetridge Drive, Chicago, Illinois 60605

Located Midway Plaisance East 59th Street between Ellis and University avenues, Chicago, Illinois

Formerly located Lincoln Park, Corner of Fullerton Avenue and Stockton Drive, Chicago, Illinois 1891-1976.

The sculpture was erected in 1891 by the Swedish community of Chicago and was moved to Midway Plaisance in 1976 after it had become a victim of repeated vandalism. Originally the statue's pedestal was surrounded by four allegorical female figures representing the four branches of science or the four seasons, they succumbed to vandalism and have not been replaced. This sculpture is a copy of the original located in Stockholm. The Chicago Park District Monument and Sculpture Photographic Archives contain photographs of the original and current locations of the monument. The Chicago Park District Monument and Sculpture Preservation Files contain miscellaneous articles, correspondence regarding the progress of the monument, blueprints for proposed settings, and a copy of the rededication brochure. For more information, see Bryan, I. J. comp., "A History of Lincoln Park and Annual Report of the Commissioners," Chicago: The Commissioners, 1899, pg. 71, 88-89, 106; and West, Myron H., "An Illustrated Guide of Lincoln Park," Chicago: Gunthrop-Warren Printing, Co., 1911, pg. 14, 17.

Index of American Sculpture, University of Delaware, 1985

Bach, Ira J., and Mary Lackritz Gray, "A Guide to Chicago's Public Sculpture," Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1983, pg. 255-256.

National Park Service, American Monuments and Outdoor Sculpture Database, IL5061, 1989.

Monumental News, June 1891, pg. 207, 213.

Save Outdoor Sculpture, Illinois, Chicago survey, 1992.

Meyer, Olle, 2009.

Bach, Ira J., and Mary Lackritz Gray, "A Guide to Chicago's Public Sculpture," Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1983, pg. 255.

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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