Lions (Kemeys)

Pair of lion statues in Chicago, Illinois, U.S.

Lions

The northern sculpture in 2006

Artist| Edward Kemeys
Year| 1893; 132 years ago (1893)
Medium| Bronze sculpture
Subject| Lions
Location| Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Coordinates| 41°52′46.0″N 87°37′26.8″W﻿ / ﻿41.879444°N 87.624111°W﻿ / 41.879444; -87.624111

Lions is a pair of 1893 bronze sculptures by Edward Kemeys, installed outside of the main entrance to the Art Institute of Chicago in Chicago, Illinois. The sculptures are well-recognized public artworks.

The sculptures were commissioned by Florence Lathrop Field as a gift to the museum in memory of her late husband Henry Field.

## Description

[edit]

Southern sculpture, photographed in 2005

The bronze sculptures[1] are modeled after African lions.[2] Each sculpture weighs more than two tons.[2][1][3] The northern sculpture weighs approximately 5,100 pounds (2,300 kg).[4] They are approximately 10 feet (3.0 m) in length.[5] Today, the sculptures have a green patina.[1] The sculptures flank the outside of the main entrance to the Art Institute of Chicago Building (home to the Art Institute of Chicago), being located along the east side of South Michigan Avenue at the road's intersection with East Adams Street in the city of Chicago in the U.S. state of Illinois.[1][5][6][7] The sculptures have occasionally been referred to as the "great protectors".[8]

The artist, Edward Kemeys, described the statues as "guarding the building."[9] Both are depicted in active poses.[10] Kemeys described the northern lion as positioned "on the prowl," and said that it "has his back up, and is ready for a roar and a spring." He described the southern lion as positioned "in an attitude of defiance" and "attracted by something in the distance which he is closely watching."[1][3][9] Kemeys referred to the design of the southern sculpture as "the most difficult I have ever attempted."[10] Kemeys was a leading figure in America's animalier arts movement. Like other artists in the animalier movement (which began in France), he studied living animals as inspiration for his works.[7]

The sculptures are often described as being bronze re-castings of temporary plaster lion sculptures that Kemeys had created for display on the grounds of the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition outside of the Palace of Fine Arts (today's Museum of Science and Industry building).[3][9] However, documents and photographs from the World's Fair contradict this claim, indicating instead that the lion sculptures displayed at the World's Columbian Exposition had been created by A. Phimister Proctor and Theodore Baur rather than Kemeys.[11]

## History

[edit]

The sculptures c. 1901

The sculptures in the 1930s

The bronze sculptures for the Art Institute of Chicago were commissioned by Florence Lathrop Field, an early benefactor of the museum.[3] Fields' late husband Henry Field had been an admirer of Kemeys' sculptures, and her brother Bryan Lathrop, a trustee of the Art Institute, had been a patron of Kemeys.[12]

After the board of trustees of the Art Institute of Chicago had made a decision for there to be guardian lion sculptures outside of the new museum building, the president of the board of trustees, Charles L. Hutchinson, favored commissioning such as work from one of a dozen better-known sculptors. Those considered included Augustus Bauer, Daniel Chester French, Frederick William Macmonnies, Philip Martiny, and Augustus Saint-Gaudens.[12] Bryan Lathrop wrote him in September of 1892, strongly recommending he choose Kemeys. Lathrop proposed having his sister, Florence Lathrop Field, acquire and gift the Art Institute such sculptures.[12] Lathrop stated that Field had wanted to donate them anonymously. However, in voting to accept the gift on January 31, 1893, the board of trustees executive committee also voted to thank the donor.[12] The sculptures were cast in Chicago by the American Bronze Founding Company in 1893,[1] and were unveiled on May 10, 1894.[1][2]

In 1910, the sculptures were moved slightly from their original placement to new positions 12 feet (3.7 m) nearer to the museum building. They remained in place until being temporarily removed from early 2000 until 2001, being removed in order to accommodate repair work to the entrance of the building.[5] During this time, the sculptures underwent conservation work. They were removed a second time in 2022 to again undergo conservation work (cleaning and waxing).[13] A time capsule was placed after the 2001 conservation work, accompanying a much older time capsule that is also concealed by the sculptures. During the 2022 conservation work, the time capsules were temporarily removed, being returned unopened when the sculptures were reinstalled. Furthermore, the south sculpture was found to have two Indian Head cent coins underneath it, which were temporarily removed and returned to their place underneath the sculpture when it was reinstalled.[14]

The sculptures are regarded to be iconic features of Chicago,[13][2][15] being among the city's most well-known sculptures.[7] The Chicago Lions rugby union team, founded in 1964, is named for the statues.[16] An unofficial Twitter account exists for the sculptures.[13] In 2024, the Chicago Sky of the WNBA unveiled their new mascot: “Skye the Lioness”, an animal choice which was inspired by the sculptures. This replaced the team’s previous mascot, “Sky Guy”.[17][18]

North sculpture in 2016, with a QR code installed below it (lower right) as part of the Statue Stories Chicago public art exhibit

In 2015, as part of the Statue Stories Chicago public art exhibit, QR codes were installed near each of the statues. If scanned, the codes would allow the lions to "speak", with one of them being voiced by Tracy Letts and the other by Francis Guinan. Tina Landau of the Steppenwolf Theatre Company wrote a script in which the two sculptures were portrayed as "gently feuding brothers".[19] In 2018, as part of another Statue Stories of Chicago installation,[20] the sculptures were voiced by Letts and Mandy Patinkin.[2]

In 2020, the base of the northern sculpture was vandalized, with the words "inside mania" spray painted beneath the statute. A woman was criminally charged for the vandalism.[21][22] In July 2021, the northern sculpture itself was vandalized with spray painted tagging.[23]

## Special decorations

[edit]

Christmas and holiday season wreaths on sculptures

The southern sculpture with a wreath in 2014

North sculpture with a wreath in 2009

South sculpture with a wreath in 2009

South sculpture with a wreath in 2010

Sports team decorations

The northern sculpture decorated to support the Chicago White Sox in the 2005 World Series

The sculptures decorated to support the Chicago Bears for Super Bowl XLI (2007)

The northern sculpture decorated to support the Chicago Blackhawks during the 2013 Stanley Cup Finals

The northern sculpture decorated to support the Chicago Cubs during the 2016 World Series

The northern sculpture adorned with an oversized mock-up of a surgical mask in April 2020 (during the COVID-19 pandemic)

The sculptures are, nowadays, decorated in the winter holiday season with wreaths and bows in an annual "wreathing of the lions" ceremony.[3] This tradition was begun in 1991 and has been done nearly every year since.[24] The wreathing ceremony is traditionally held the day following the United States Thanksgiving holiday observance.[25]

Often, when a Chicago major league sports team is making a strong postseason run, the sculptures will be adorned with oversized mock-ups of hats or helmets in order to show support for the team.[3][15] The first instance of this came in 1985, when the statutes were decorated with mockups of football helmets to celebrate the Chicago Bears appearance in Super Bowl XX. The sculptures were decorated with helmets again in 2007 when the Bears appeared in Super Bowl XLI,[26] as well as in 2011 when the Bears appeared in the NFC Championship Game.[27] The sculptures were decorated for the Chicago Blackhawks during their Stanley Cup Finals appearances in 2010,[26] 2013,[28] and 2015.[29] During the 2021 WNBA Finals, the sculptures were decorated for the Chicago Sky for the first time (having previously not been decorated for the team's' earlier appearance 2014 WNBA Finals).[30][31] The sculptures were decorated for the Chicago White Sox's appearance in the 2005 World Series,[32] and the Chicago Cubs' appearance in the 2016 World Series.[33][34] Additionally (unrelated to any postseason appearance) the statues had previously been decorated with Cubs hats (created by Carol Terry of the Ryerson Library) for a special “Lion Cubs” event held at the museum entrance in early October 1984.[35]

In late April 2020 (amid the COVID-19 pandemic), mock-ups of a surgical mask were placed on the sculptures in order to bring public attention to health safety measures implemented in Illinois at the time that required masking in public. A mock-up of a mask was similarly placed on the Chicago Picasso. Within a day vandals had removed one of the masks on the lion sculptures, which was quickly replaced.[21][36]

## See also

[edit]

* Chicago portal
* Visual arts portal

* 1893 in art
* 1894 in art
* Cultural depictions of lions

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b c d e f g "Lion (One of a Pair, South Pedestal)". The Art Institute of Chicago. 1893. Archived from the original on 12 May 2021. Retrieved 12 May 2021.
2. ^ a b c d e Hautzinger, Daniel (7 December 2018). "The Story of the Art Institute's Iconic Lions". WTTW Chicago. Archived from the original on 13 May 2021. Retrieved 13 May 2021.
3. ^ a b c d e f Myers, Quinn (2 October 2019). "Ask Geoffrey: The History of the Art Institute Lions". WTTW News. Archived from the original on 12 May 2021. Retrieved 12 May 2021.
4. ^ Sheridan, Jake (14 June 2022). "Art Institute Lions Head for a Steam and a Wax, Field Museum Dino Goes to Dumpster". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 23 June 2024.
5. ^ a b c "Landmark Lion Gets Change Of Scenery". Chicago Tribune. 2000-02-15. Archived from the original on 2017-04-10. Retrieved 2017-04-10.
6. ^ "Lions at the Art Institute of Chicago, 1894". cultureNOW. Archived from the original on April 10, 2017. Retrieved April 9, 2017.
7. ^ a b c "Lions | Artwork". Chicago Park District. Retrieved 25 June 2024.
8. ^ Multiple sources:
* "Art Institute Chicago Lions Temporarily Removed for Cleaning". ABC7 Chicago. 14 June 2022. Retrieved 23 June 2024.
* Liederman, Mack (10 June 2022). "Art Institute Lions Being Removed For Cleaning, But Don't Worry — They'll Be Back". Block Club Chicago. Retrieved 23 June 2024.
9. ^ a b c "Lions | Chicago Park District". Chicago Park District. Archived from the original on 13 May 2021. Retrieved 13 May 2021.
10. ^ a b Jones, Paul (21 November 2018). "The Lions of Michigan Avenue". www.artic.edu. Art Institute of Chicago. Archived from the original on 12 May 2021. Retrieved 12 May 2021.
11. ^ "Did the Art Institute of Chicago Lions Come From the 1893 World's Fair? (Pt 1)". Chicagos 1893 Worlds Fair. 2022-07-14. Retrieved 2022-07-19.
12. ^ a b c d Funigiello, Philip J. (1994). Florence Lathrop Page: A Biography. University of Virginia Press. p. 34\. ISBN 978-0-8139-1489-3. Archived from the original on 28 May 2021. Retrieved 12 May 2021.
13. ^ a b c "Art Institute Lions return to posts after deep-cleaning, "Cleaner and Greener Than Ever"". CBS News. 19 July 2022.
14. ^ "Art Institute's Iconic Bronze Beasts — Now 'Shinier' — Return Home". Chicago Sun-Times. 19 July 2022. Retrieved 23 June 2024.
15. ^ a b Harrington, Adam (24 November 2023). "Art Institute of Chicago's Lions Adorned With Wreaths". CBS News Chicago. Retrieved 24 June 2024.
16. ^ "History". Chicago Lions Rugby. Archived from the original on 13 May 2021. Retrieved 13 May 2021.
17. ^ Perez, Rafael (28 August 2024). "No More Sky Guy: Fans Celebrate As Chicago Sky Unveils New Mascot, Skye The Lioness". Block Club Chicago. Retrieved 10 April 2025.
18. ^ "Chicago Sky make midseason mascot change". Yardbarker. 26 August 2024. Retrieved 10 April 2025.
19. ^ Johnson, Steve (5 August 2015). "If statues could talk — they might sound like David Schwimmer". Chicago Tribune.
20. ^ Thometz, Kristen (18 May 2018). "30 Chicago Statues to Keep Talking Through 2020". WTTW News. Archived from the original on 13 May 2021. Retrieved 13 May 2021.
21. ^ a b "Woman Charged With Vandalizing Art Institute Lion Statue". Chicago Sun-Times. 26 June 2020. Retrieved 23 June 2024.
22. ^ "Woman Charged With Vandalizing Art Institute Lion's Base". Chicago Tribune. 26 June 2020. Retrieved 23 June 2024.
23. ^ Sruett, David (16 June 2021). "Chicago Art Institute lion Tagged With Spray Paint". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved 23 June 2024.
24. ^ Multiple sources:
* "Lions adorned with wreaths in annual tradition". Chicago Tribune. 28 November 2014. Retrieved 24 June 2024.
* "Art Institute of Chicago adorns iconic lions with giant wreaths in holiday tradition". ABC7 Chicago. 24 November 2023. Retrieved 24 June 2024.
* "You Know It's The Holidays When The Lions Wear Their Wreaths". CBS News Chicago. 29 November 2013. Retrieved 24 June 2024.
25. ^ Kalsnes, Lynette (20 November 2010). "Art Institute's Lions Get New Twist on Traditional Wreaths". WBEZ. Retrieved 24 June 2024.
26. ^ a b Hogan, Erin (26 May 2010). "Our Civic-Minded Pride". Art Institute of Chicago. Retrieved 10 April 2025.
27. ^ "Art Institute to decorate lions with Chicago Bears helmets and uniforms". Chicago Parent. 21 January 2011. Retrieved 10 April 2025.
28. ^ "Art Institute of Chicago Lions Strap on Blackhawks Helmets". The State Journal-Register. June 12, 2013. Retrieved 10 April 2025.
29. ^ "Photos: Lions Outfitted with Chicago Blackhawks Helmets". ABC7 Chicago. June 3, 2015. Retrieved 10 April 2025.
30. ^ "Art Institute Lions Sport Chicago Sky Jerseys for Playoffs Run". NBC Chicago. 14 October 2021. Retrieved 10 April 2025.
31. ^ "October 15, 2021 post". The Art Institute of Chicago on Facebook. October 15, 2021. Retrieved 10 April 2025. "We are proud and excited to see our lions sporting Chicago Sky jerseys for the first time! Join us in cheering on the Sky as they go up against the Phoenix Mercury in the WNBA Finals this year. Let's bring home that trophy!"
32. ^ "Hard-headed: Bears helmet on lion statue cracks". ESPN.com. 30 January 2007. Retrieved 10 April 2025.
33. ^ @artinstitutechi (October 24, 2016). "History in the making… The lions get @Cubs hats for the first time. #FlyTheW #GoCubsGo" (Tweet) - via Twitter.
34. ^ Landrey, Corinne (October 24, 2016). "The Art Institute of Chicago's famous lions are ready for the Cubs to play in the World Series". MLB.com. Retrieved 10 April 2025.
35. ^ "Press Releases from 1984". The Art Institute of Chicago. Retrieved 10 April 2025.
36. ^ Multiple sources:
* "Face Mask Stolen From Art Institute Lion". NBC Chicago. 1 May 2020.
* "Mask stolen from lion statue outside Chicago's Art Institute". The Associated Press. 2 May 2020. Retrieved 23 June 2024.

## External links

[edit]

* Media related to Lions, a pair, 1894 at Wikimedia Commons

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