# Mystery places: Eternal Silence (sculpture) - Source: https://www.auricmedia.net/mystery-places-eternal-silence-sculpture/ - Published: 2013-07-10T03:46:58+00:00 - Categories: Mysteries, Secret sites This mystery place has a sculpture, which is very haunting and we don't know what it is about. So here is a Eternal Silence: ** [*](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Chicago,_Illinois_Eternal_Silence1_crop.jpg) According to folklore looking into the eyes of the statue will give the viewer a vision of their own death. Location: [Chicago](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chicago,_Illinois), [Cook County](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cook_County,_Illinois), [Illinois](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Illinois), [USA](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USA) Built: 1909 Built by: Jules Bercham Architectural style: [Art Nouveau](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Art_Nouveau) Sculptor: [Lorado Taft](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lorado_Taft) Governing body: Graceland Cemetery Part of: [Graceland Cemetery](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Graceland_Cemetery) (#00001628) Added to NRHP: January 18, 2001 Eternal Silence***, alternatively known as the **Dexter Graves Monument** or the **Statue of Death**,[[1]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eternal_Silence_%28sculpture%29#cite_note-bielski-1) is a monument in [Chicago's](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chicago)[Graceland Cemetery](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Graceland_Cemetery). It is a bronze sculpture set on and backdropped by black granite. It was created by American sculptor [Lorado Taft](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lorado_Taft) in 1909. ## History *Eternal Silence* is a monument in [Graceland Cemetery](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Graceland_Cemetery) to Dexter Graves, who led a group of thirteen families who moved to Chicago from Ohio in 1831.[[2]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eternal_Silence_%28sculpture%29#cite_note-2) He died in 1844, and the monument was commissioned from sculptor Lorado Taft in 1909 by Graves' son Henry Graves.[[3]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eternal_Silence_%28sculpture%29#cite_note-nrhp1-3) In Ada Bartlett Taft's 1946 *Lorado Taft; Sculptor and Citizen*, it was listed as one of his most important works.[[4]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eternal_Silence_%28sculpture%29#cite_note-nrhp3-4) Images of *Eternal Silence* have been used in other artworks, including works by [Claes Oldenburg](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Claes_Oldenburg).[[4]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eternal_Silence_%28sculpture%29#cite_note-nrhp3-4) One [folktale](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Folklore) claims that if an unsuspecting viewer were to look into the eyes of *Eternal Silence's* hooded figure, the viewer would be shown a vision of his or her own death.[[1]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eternal_Silence_%28sculpture%29#cite_note-bielski-1) ## Design [*](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Chicago,_Illinois_Eternal_Silence1.jpg) [![](http://bits.wikimedia.org/static-1.22wmf7/skins/common/images/magnify-clip.png)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Chicago,_Illinois_Eternal_Silence1.jpg) Hooded bronze figure Eternal Silence* has been called "eerie",[[3]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eternal_Silence_%28sculpture%29#cite_note-nrhp1-3) "somber",[[3]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eternal_Silence_%28sculpture%29#cite_note-nrhp1-3) "grim-looking",[[5]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eternal_Silence_%28sculpture%29#cite_note-cutler-5) "mysterious",[[6]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eternal_Silence_%28sculpture%29#cite_note-aia-6) and "haunting".[[6]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eternal_Silence_%28sculpture%29#cite_note-aia-6) The [bronze](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bronze) figure, based on traditional depictions of the [Grim Reaper](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grim_Reaper), is set against a [black granite](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_granite) base and stands ten feet tall upon that base.[[3]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eternal_Silence_%28sculpture%29#cite_note-nrhp1-3) The black granite provides contrast for the bronze statue, which is heavily [oxidized](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oxidized) because of its age.[[3]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eternal_Silence_%28sculpture%29#cite_note-nrhp1-3)[[7]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eternal_Silence_%28sculpture%29#cite_note-cohn-7) The hooded figure was influenced by Taft's own "ideas on death and silence".[[4]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eternal_Silence_%28sculpture%29#cite_note-nrhp3-4) Historically speaking, the figure in *Eternal Silence* is related to the sculpted funeral procession around the [tomb of Philip the Bold](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philip_the_Bold#Tomb_of_Philip_the_Bold) in [Dijon, France](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dijon,_France) and the [Adams Memorial](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adams_Memorial_%28Saint-Gaudens%29) by [Augustus Saint-Gaudens](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Augustus_Saint-Gaudens) in [Washington, D.C](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Washington,_D.C).[[4]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eternal_Silence_%28sculpture%29#cite_note-nrhp3-4) The statue is considered famous and has been noted as Graceland Cemetery's most "unforgettable" monument.[[1]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eternal_Silence_%28sculpture%29#cite_note-bielski-1)[[3]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eternal_Silence_%28sculpture%29#cite_note-nrhp1-3)[[7]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eternal_Silence_%28sculpture%29#cite_note-cohn-7) The monument was designed by Taft and cast by Jules Bercham.[[8]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eternal_Silence_%28sculpture%29#cite_note-prop-8)[[9]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eternal_Silence_%28sculpture%29#cite_note-nrhp2-9) On its base, Taft inscribed the north side with his signature; the south side is inscribed with *Am. Art Bronze Foundry J. Bercham -Chicago-*.[[3]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eternal_Silence_%28sculpture%29#cite_note-nrhp1-3) The monument falls within [Art Nouveau style](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Art_Nouveau).[[4]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eternal_Silence_%28sculpture%29#cite_note-nrhp3-4) [Source](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eternal_Silence_%28sculpture%29) Here is something about the sculptor Lorado Taft: ** [*](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Lorado_Taft.jpg) Born April 29, 1860 [Elmwood, Illinois](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elmwood,_Illinois) Died October 30, 1936 (aged 76) [Chicago](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chicago), [Illinois](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Illinois) Nationality American Field [Sculpture](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sculpture) Lorado Zadoc Taft** (April 29, 1860 – October 30, 1936) was an American sculptor, writer and educator. Taft was born in [Elmwood, Illinois](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elmwood,_Illinois) in 1860 and died in his home studio in [Chicago](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chicago) in 1936.[[1]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lorado_Taft#cite_note-nyt1936-1) ## Early years and education After being homeschooled by his parents, Taft earned his [bachelor's degree](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bachelor%27s_degree) (1879) and [master's degree](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Master%27s_degree) (1880) from the [University of Illinois](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_Illinois_at_Urbana-Champaign) where his father was a professor of [geology](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geology).[[2]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lorado_Taft#cite_note-2) The same year he left for Paris to study sculpture, he continued to maintain his connections with the university in Urbana and his sculpture of Alma Mater* at Urbana has come to symbolize something significant.[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*] In Paris, Taft attended the [École nationale supérieure des Beaux-Arts](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C3%89cole_nationale_sup%C3%A9rieure_des_Beaux-Arts) from 1880 to 1883, where he studied with [Augustin Dumont](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Augustin_Dumont), [Jean-Marie Bonnassieux](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jean-Marie_Bonnassieux) and [Jules Thomas](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jules_Thomas). His record there was outstanding; he was cited as "top man" in his studio and twice exhibited at the [Salon](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paris_Salon). Upon returning to the United States in 1886 he settled in Chicago. He taught at the [Art Institute of Chicago](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Art_Institute_of_Chicago), a post he was to remain at until 1929. In addition to work in clay and plaster, Taft taught his students marble carving, and had them work on group projects. He also lectured at the [University of Chicago](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_Chicago) and the [University of Illinois](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_Illinois).[[3]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lorado_Taft#cite_note-3) In 1892, while the art community of Chicago was preparing for the [World's Columbian Exposition](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World%27s_Columbian_Exposition) of 1893, chief architect [Daniel Burnham](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daniel_Burnham) expressed concern to Taft that the sculptural adornments to the buildings might not be finished on time. Taft asked if he could employ some of his female students as assistants (it was not socially accepted for women to work as sculptors at that time) for the Horticultural Building, Burnham responded with the classic reply, "Hire anyone, even white rabbits if they'll do the work." From that arose a group of talented women sculptors who were to retain the name "the [White Rabbits](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_Rabbits_%28sculptors%29)." These included [Enid Yandell](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enid_Yandell), [Carol Brooks MacNeil](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carol_Brooks_MacNeil), [Bessie Potter Vonnoh](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bessie_Potter_Vonnoh), [Janet Scudder](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Janet_Scudder), and [Julia Bracken](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Julia_Bracken_Wendt). Later another former successful student who emigrated to Canada, [Frances Loring](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frances_Loring), noted that Taft used his students' talents to further his own career, a not uncommon observation by students regarding their teachers. In general, history has given Taft credit for helping to advance the status of women as sculptors. In 1898, Taft was a founding member of the [Eagle's Nest Art Colony](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eagle%27s_Nest_Art_Colony) in the small town of [Oregon, Illinois](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oregon,_Illinois). Taft designed the Columbus Fountain at Union Station in Washington, D.C., in collaboration with Daniel Burnham. ## Later years In 1903 Taft published *The History of American Sculpture*, the first survey of the subject. In some settings, Taft is perhaps better known for his published writings than for his sculpture. The revised 1925 version of this text was to remain the standard reference on this subject until Wayne Craven published "Sculpture in America" in 1968. Taft also wrote *Modern Tendencies in Sculpture* (1921). As Taft grew older, his eloquent speaking skills and compelling writing led him, along with [Frederick Ruckstull](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frederick_Ruckstull), to the forefront of sculpture's conservative ranks, where he often served as a spokesperson against the modern and abstract trends which developed in sculpture during his lifetime. Taft's frequent lecture tours for the [Chautauqua](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chautauqua) also gave him a broad, popular [celebrity](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Celebrity) status in this period. In 1921, Taft published *Modern Tendencies in Sculpture*, a compilation of his lectures given at the Art Institute of Chicago. The book continues to be regarded as an excellent survey of American sculpture in the early years of the 20th century; and it offered a distinct perspective on the development of European sculpture at that time. Taft was a member of the [National Academy of Design](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Academy_of_Design), the [National Institute of Arts and Letters](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Institute_of_Arts_and_Letters), and the [American Academy of Arts and Letters](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Academy_of_Arts_and_Letters); he headed the [National Sculpture Society](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Sculpture_Society) in the 1920s and served on the Board of Art Advisors of Illinois. He received numerous awards, prizes, and honorary degrees, served on the [U.S. Commission of Fine Arts](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U.S._Commission_of_Fine_Arts) from 1925 to 1929, and was an honorary member of the [American Institute of Architects](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Institute_of_Architects). His papers reside in collections at the Smithsonian [Archives of American Art](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archives_of_American_Art), the University of Illinois, and the Art Institute of Chicago.[[4]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lorado_Taft#cite_note-4). Taft was active until the end of his life. The week before he died, he attended the [Quincy, Illinois](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quincy,_Illinois) dedication ceremonies for his sculpture celebrating the [Lincoln-Douglas debates](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lincoln-Douglas_debates).[[1]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lorado_Taft#cite_note-nyt1936-1) He left unfinished a vast work to be called the "Fountain of Creation" which he planned to place at the opposite end of the Chicago Midway from the "Fountain of Time."[[5]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lorado_Taft#cite_note-5) Parts of this work were donated to the [University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_Illinois_at_Urbana%E2%80%93Champaign) and are now at the library and [Foellinger Auditorium](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foellinger_Auditorium). The University named a dormitory and a street in Taft's honor.[[6]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lorado_Taft#cite_note-6) ## Sculptor's body of work Lorado Taft was a member of the [National Sculpture Society](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Sculpture_Society) and exhibited at both their 1923 and 1929 shows. Today Taft is best remembered for his various [fountains](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fountain). Following more than a dozen years of work, Taft's *[Fountain of Time](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fountain_of_Time)* was unveiled at the west end of Chicago's [Midway Plaisance](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Midway_Plaisance) in 1922. Based on poet [Austin Dobson](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_Austin_Dobson)'s lines – "*Time goes, you say? Ah no, Alas, time stays, we go.*" – the fountain shows a cloaked figure of time observing the stream of humanity flowing past. ### Pioneer & Patriot Groups for the Louisiana State Capitol Building The last major commission that Taft was to complete in his life was two groups for the front entrance to the [Louisiana State Capitol](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louisiana_State_Capitol) Building, dedicated in 1932. Here's a YouTube mini document about Taft's statues:     So here you have a nice little mystery place called "Eternal Silence". Check it out if you live nearby.