Francis Hamilton Memorial Fountain, (sculpture).

Francis Hamilton Memorial Fountain, (sculpture).

Polasek, Albin, 1879-1965, sculptor.

Aitken, Robert, 1878-1949, designer.

Francis Hamilton Memorial Fountain, (sculpture).

Dedicated 1919.

Digital Reference:

Fountain: bronze: Foundation: concrete or granite.

Fountain: approx. H. 37 in. x Diam. 28 in.; Foundation: approx. 3 in. x Diam. 28 in.

(Around the top of the fountain, in raised lettering:) PRESENTED TO THE CITY OF ANN ARBOR BY FRANCIS M HAMILTON MAYOR 1905-1907 UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN CLASS OF 1869 signed

A circular drinking fountain with three basins sunk in at the top. On the sides is a procession of robed figures in relief, representing Youth, Labor, Poetry, and Philosophy. First comes exuberant boys with cymbals, trumpets, and pipes, then two graceful women bearing water jars. Next comes a child with a basket of flowers, a young man with a scroll in hand and a maiden leaning on his arm, and a grave young shepherd with his sheep. Finally comes a youth spreading a scroll of figures before a sage. Around the top of the fountain is an inscription.

Homage -- Hamilton, Francis M.

Occupation -- Political -- Mayor

Allegory -- Life -- Youth

Allegory -- Arts & Sciences -- Industry

Allegory -- Arts & Sciences -- Poetry

Allegory -- Arts & Sciences -- Philosophy

Object -- Musical Instrument -- Cymbal

Object -- Musical Instrument -- Trumpet

Object -- Musical Instrument -- Flute

Object -- Flower

Object -- Written Matter -- Scroll

Animal -- Sheep

Occupation -- Farm -- Shepherd

Outdoor Sculpture -- Michigan -- Ann Arbor

Administered by City of Ann Arbor, Park Maintenance, 415 West Washington, Ann Arbor, Michigan

Located University of Michigan, Corner of North University Avenue & State Street, Ann Arbor, Michigan

Fountain commemorates Francis M. Hamilton, a graduate of the 1869 Class of the University of Michigan, and Mayor of Ann Arbor from 1905 to 1907. He willed the city of Ann Arbor $1,000 for the purpose of erecting a drinking fountain, and following his death in May of 1914, his family donated another $500. Aitken did the preliminary design on the fountain, but turned the commission over to Albin Polasek to complete, before entering the Army in 1917. The fountain was dedicated at the 1919 Commencement ceremonies at the University of Michigan. IAS files also contain unpublished excerpt from Einar Kvaran's "Annotated Inventory of Outdoor Sculpture in Washtenaw County," 1989.

Save Outdoor Sculpture, Michigan 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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