Call of the Sea (Bell Fountain)

Originally conceived as a fountain for her patron James Bell, Frishmuth's Call of the Sea was intended to be displayed at the end of Bell's pool, opposite to Edward McCartan's Young Pan. The artist recalled: "I sort of felt as though she was calling to Pan to come over, come on in. The idea of the whole thing was a feeling of calling, like the ocean has always called to me." (as quoted in Captured Motion, The Sculpture of Harriet Whitney Frishmuth: A Catalogue of Works, New York, 2006, p. 38) Modeled in 1923, a time of critical acclaim for Frishmuth, the present work demonstrates the sense of motion and joy associated with the artist's esteemed body of work.

The present cast is one of an edition of 18 cast by the Gorham Foundry. Another example resides in Brookgreen Gardens in South Carolina.