Well of Life (sculpture): Difference between revisions

{{short description|Sculpture in Zagreb, Croatia}}

The '''''Well of Life''''' (sometimes also '''''At the Well of Life''''' or the '''''Fountain of Life'''''; {{lang-hr|Zdenac života}}) is a [[sculpture]] by the Croatian sculptor and architect [[Ivan Meštrović]] installed in front of the [[Croatian National Theatre in Zagreb|Croatian National Theatre]] on [[Republic of Croatia Square]] in [[Zagreb]], Croatia. It depicts people in various phases of life that crouch and twist their bodies around a well which symbolizes life, youth, and the source of eternal beauty.

The sculpture is circular with relief of ten naked figures, a child, love couple and the old man, life-size, that crouch and twist their bodies around a well which contains water. Strong facial expressions of the figures show the joy of life which alternated rhythmically makes the life cycle. The figures are watching their reflections in the water, while their bodies appear to have been frozen in motion. The figures are arranged so that they show to viewer the purpose of the well, i.e., desire for life and joy, which can be seen best in young characters who are hugging and kissing as opposed to the old man who is at the end of his life and looks with grief into the well, a symbol of life. The sculpture depicts man's natural cycle, from birth to death.<ref>{{cite web|title=Zdenac života – Meštrovićevo remek-djelo|url=http://www.give-me-art.com/zdenac-zivota-mestrovicevo-remek-djelo/|website=Give-me-art.com|accessdate=16 October 2016|language=hr|archive-date=27 September 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130927145731/http://www.give-me-art.com/zdenac-zivota-mestrovicevo-remek-djelo/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

The sculpture is smooth and rounded with no sharp edges or regular geometric forms. It is made of bronze, whose dark color is in great contrast to the whiteness of the rock on which it is placed. The transitions between light and shadow are mild. The sculpture is both [[wikt:convex|convex]] and [[wikt:concave|concave]].{{cn|date=October 2016}}

[[Auguste Rodin]]'s influence on Meštrović can be seen in this sculpture. As art historian professor Ljiljana Čerina says, "With its shimmering surface treatment of the body, Meštrović brings Rodin's [[impressionism]] into the [[Vienna Secession]] which proves that he is rodinist among [[secession (art)|secessionists]], while later in [[Paris]]he proves that he is secessionist among rodinists."<ref name="slobodnadalmacija1">{{cite web|title='Zdenac života' u HNK Split|url=http://www.slobodnadalmacija.hr/scena/kultura/clanak/id/200337/zdenac-zivota-u-hnk-split|website=[[Slobodna Dalmacija]]|accessdate=16 October 2016|language=hr|date=3 May 2013}}</ref>

Sculpture was made in 1905, and was exhibited in 1909 in the author's gallery in [[Ilica (street)|Ilica]] street no. 12. In year 1912, sculpture was bought by [[Izidor Kršnjavi]] and installed on the [[Republic of Croatia Square]]. It was placed in the cavity surrounded by walls so that naked bodies on it would not cause astonishment and critical comments of, at the time, conservative people of Zagreb. In correspondence with [[Ante Trumbić]], Meštrović clearly expressed his wish that ''Well of Life'' should be placed in [[Split, Croatia|Split]].<ref name="slobodnadalmacija1"/>

* {{Commons category-inline|Fountain of Life (Zagreb)|position=left}}

* [http://spomenik.pbworks.com/w/page/38607163/Zdenac%20%C5%BEivota Analysis of the sculpture] {{in lang|hr}}

{{Ivan Meštrović}}

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[[Category:1900s sculptures]]

[[Category:Bronze sculptures in Croatia]]

[[Category:Culture in Zagreb]]

[[Category:Sculptures by Ivan Meštrović]]

[[Category:Donji grad, Zagreb]]

[[Category:Sculptures of children in Croatia]]

[[Category:Water in art]]