Eternal Silence (sculpture) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Dexter Graves Monument
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U.S. Historic district
Contributing property |
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According to folklore looking into the eyes of the statue will give the viewer a vision of their own death.
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| Location | Chicago, Cook County, Illinois, United States |
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| Built | 1909 |
| Built by | Jules Bercham |
| Sculptor | Lorado Taft |
| Architectural style | Art Nouveau |
| Part of | Graceland Cemetery (ID00001628) |
| Added to NRHP | January 18, 2001 |
Eternal Silence, also known as the Dexter Graves Monument, is a special statue in Chicago's Graceland Cemetery. It shows a bronze figure that looks mysterious, placed in front of a dark granite background. The famous American sculptor Lorado Taft created this artwork in 1909. Many people find it quite haunting and interesting.
History of the Monument
The Eternal Silence monument honors Dexter Graves. In 1831, Dexter Graves led a group of thirteen families from Ohio to settle in Chicago. He passed away in 1844. This was 75 years before the statue was made. It was also 16 years before Graceland Cemetery was even founded. His body was likely moved from its first resting place. That place was the old City Cemetery, which is now Lincoln Park.
Dexter's son, Henry Graves, died in 1907. In his will, Henry left a large sum of money for the monument. He provided $250,000 for the statue. He also set aside $40,000 for a monument to his favorite racehorse, Ike Cook. The horse monument was planned for Washington Park. However, it was never built. Instead, in 1920, another sculpture by Taft was created there. This was the Fountain of Time. It features a similar hooded figure to the one in Eternal Silence.
Ada Bartlett Taft wrote a book in 1946. It was called Lorado Taft; Sculptor and Citizen. In her book, she listed Eternal Silence as one of Taft's most important works. Pictures of Eternal Silence have even been used in other art. One popular folktale about the statue is quite spooky. It says that if you look into the eyes of the hooded figure, you will see a vision of your own death.
Design and Appearance
People have described Eternal Silence in many ways. They call it "eerie," "somber," "grim-looking," "mysterious," and "haunting." The bronze figure is based on traditional images of the Grim Reaper. It stands against a black granite base. The statue itself is about 10 feet (3 meters) tall on its base.
The dark granite makes the bronze statue stand out. The bronze has changed color over time. This is because of a natural process called oxidation. It gives the statue a green color. The cemetery used to clean the statue to make it look like new bronze. But many people complained. They wanted the statue to keep its dramatic green color. So, now the cemetery leaves the statue in its oxidized state.
The hooded figure was inspired by Taft's thoughts. He had ideas about death and silence. This statue is similar to other famous sculptures. These include the funeral procession around the Tomb of Philip the Bold in Dijon, France. It is also like the Adams Memorial by Augustus Saint-Gaudens in Washington, D.C.. The statue is very well-known. Many people consider it the most "unforgettable" monument in Graceland Cemetery.
Lorado Taft designed the monument. It was cast, or shaped, by Jules Bercham. Taft signed his name on the north side of the base. The south side has the inscription Am. Art Bronze Foundry J. Bercham -Chicago-. The monument is an example of the Art Nouveau style. This style was popular in the early 1900s. It features flowing lines and natural shapes.
See also
In Spanish: Silencio eterno (escultura) para niños
