Standing Guard
September 16, 2009 /Image & Artwork: designslinger]
At the Congress Parkway entrance to Chicago's Grant Park stands a Native American rider
poised to throw a spear.
September 16, 2009 /Image & Artwork: designslinger]
Directly opposite, another rider's elbow is drawn back ready to shoot an arrow into the
air.
This pair of 17-foot-tall, bronze equestrians were sculpted by Croatian artist,
Ivan Mestrovic. The original plan called for an Indian and a cowboy, but that idea was scrapped in favor of two Native Americans. Mestrovic said that his tense, muscular figures were meant to represent the dynamism and energy of the New World. The pieces were modeled in Chicago, but cast in the sculptor's Zagreb studio and placed on their pedestals in 1928.
A question that people have asked for decades is: where are the spear and bow? I tried to
find an answer, but in all the research I could dig up, I was left with the mystery unsolved. Perhaps Mestrovic simply wanted us to use our imaginations and fill in the blanks. Any thoughts -or answers?
Posted by designslinger at 10/12/2009 2:22 AM 
Categories: Art
Tags: sculpture Ivan Mestrovic equestrian statues
Categories: Art
Tags: sculpture Ivan Mestrovic equestrian statues
In the Frommer's Chicago 2009 it is said that Mestrovic intentionally omitted them to make an antiwar statement.
I don't know if it is true though...
It makes sense though.
Designslinger, with the beautiful photos on the right, I think I deleted the confirmation email from my spam folder, so here I try again:
Credit must be given, to the artist, for the amount of detail, given, to the musculature, and for the dramatism, of the poses. Yet I do not like the style.
It reminds me of soviet postage stamps and posters from the early 20th century. Thus it feels intrusive, to see it at my doorstep.
How did the artist get the contract, I wonder? Is he a freemason?
Dear me, Designslinger, I meant to say the photos on the left.
That's okay!
hi there - i tried to find email/contact info on your site but had no luck (or just didn't search hard enough...). these bowman pics are fantastic! are they available for sale, by chance? and, if so, what's the cost and what sizes are they available in (digitally)? i'd like to get a poster made and framed for a croatian friend of mine who just moved to the city. i'd appreciate your feedback whenever you get a chance. email works best...thanks.
Yeah, probably missed the address, it's at the bottom of the page. Thanks for your interest in the pics and the very generous compliment. We're not selling our images right now, but we'll keep your email address and if and when we decide to put them out there on the open market, we'll definitely be in touch. And, thanks again!