''Persephone'' is an outdoor sculpture by artist

Armand Toussaint The French sculptor François Christophe Armand Toussaint was born in Paris on April 7, 1806, and died there on May 24, 1862. The son of a locksmith, Armand Toussaint entered the École nationale supérieure des Beaux-Arts, École des Beaux-Art ...

created c. 1840. The work sits within the center of a pool in Holcomb Gardens on the grounds of

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. The sculpture depicts the Greek goddess

Persephone In ancient Greek mythology and Ancient Greek religion, religion, Persephone ( ; , classical pronunciation: ), also called Kore ( ; ) or Cora, is the daughter of Zeus and Demeter. She became the queen of the Greek underworld, underworld afte ...

. In 1993 the sculpture was examined by the

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program produced by the

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Description

''Persephone'' depicts the Greek goddess Persephone standing on a

limestone Limestone is a type of carbonate rock, carbonate sedimentary rock which is the main source of the material Lime (material), lime. It is composed mostly of the minerals calcite and aragonite, which are different Polymorphism (materials science) ...

base in the center of a

concrete Concrete is a composite material composed of aggregate bound together with a fluid cement that cures to a solid over time. It is the second-most-used substance (after water), the most–widely used building material, and the most-manufactur ...

octagonal pool. The bronze female figure is draped from the waist down. Her left hand is raised and holds a lit torch of bundled twigs. An inscription on the statue base reads on the left statue base: :AD TOUSSAINT :SCULPTEUR The right side of the base is inscribed: :GRAUX-MARLY :FABT DE BRONZES The front of the base is inscribed just before a 1950 founders mark: :PERSEPHONE :IN ANCIENT GREEK MYTHOLO- :GY, SHE, AS THE DAUGHTER :OF ZEUS AND DEMETER, WAS :WORSHIPPED AS THE GODDESS :OF VEGETATION, RETURNING :EACH SPRING FROM THE REALM :OF HADES TO HERALD THE :SEASON OF GROWTH, AND IN :WINTER DISAPPEARING TO PASS :HER TIME, LIKE THE SEED, :UNDER THE EARTH. THE STATUE :WAS EXECUTED IN PARIS ABOUT :1840 BY ARMAND TOUSSAINT, :1806-1862. A GIFT OF JAMES :IRVING HOLCOMB

Acquisition

The sculpture was made in France and was originally located at the Swift estate in

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. It was purchased by J. I. Holcomb in 1950 and installed at the gardens.

Creation

The piece, made in France, was created primarily crafted by sculptor Armand Toussaint and cast by Graux-Marly. Upon its placement at Holcomb Gardens, the landscapers were J.I. Holcomb and Arthur Lindberg.

Condition

In 1993 ''Persephone'' was surveyed for the

survey on behalf of the

. The condition of the sculpture, at that time, was described as "treatment needed."

Information

The sculpture of the Greek goddess is meant to represent Persephone coming back from the underworld every spring to make the flowers and plants bloom. In Fall 2011 a mural in the Johnson Room in Robertson Hall on the Butler campus was created. The 2,120 square-foot mural depicts notable landmarks at Butler, including ''Persephone''. In 1962, students dressed the statue in a bra, referencing the infamous "I dreamed I... in my Maidenform bra" campaign."Humoresque," ''Maidenform Mirror.'' May–June 1962. Maidenform Collection at the Archives Center, Smithsonian National Museum of American History. Box 20.

References

{{commons category, Persephone by Armand Toussaint (1840) 1840 sculptures Bronze sculptures in Indiana Butler University buildings and structures Outdoor sculptures in Indianapolis Statues in Indianapolis 1840 establishments in Indiana Sculptures of Persephone