Boston

Japanese Lantern Artist: Unknown Location: Boston Public Garden, near footbridge Neighborhood: Back Bay Type: Sculpture Year: 1587 / 1904 Medium: Iron Description: In 1904, Japanese art dealer Bunkio Matsuki gave this lantern as a gift to the City of Boston. Lanterns have a long association with Buddhist temples and shrines, where they have been used as votive lights since the 7th century. They were later used to decorate and light secular sites as well, especially gardens. Japanese lanterns are typically made from stone, wood, or metal, and some feature elaborate designs. This lantern is believed to date to the 16th century, but little else is known about it. Bunkio Matsuki was born into a family of artists and temple builders in Japan. He originally trained to be a Buddhist monk but immigrated to the US in 1888, where he chose a very different profession: promoting Japanese art and culture to the American public. Matsuki managed a store in Boston specializing in Japanese art and antiques. He also worked for governments and museums to appraise and inspect art objects and published a journal called Lotus. During the early 20th century, oriental designs were considered exotic and fashionable among well-to-do Americans, and Matsuki’s Boston store certainly contributed to the trend. Text from: www.publicartboston.com/content/japanese-lantern

Japanese Lantern Artist: Unknown Location: Boston Public Garden, near footbridge Neighborhood: Back Bay Type: Sculpture Year: 1587 / 1904 Medium: Iron Description: In 1904, Japanese art dealer Bunkio Matsuki gave this lantern as a gift to the City of Boston. Lanterns have a long association with Buddhist temples and shrines, where they have been used as votive lights since the 7th century. They were later used to decorate and light secular sites as well, especially gardens. Japanese lanterns are typically made from stone, wood, or metal, and some feature elaborate designs. This lantern is believed to date to the 16th century, but little else is known about it. Bunkio Matsuki was born into a family of artists and temple builders in Japan. He originally trained to be a Buddhist monk but immigrated to the US in 1888, where he chose a very different profession: promoting Japanese art and culture to the American public. Matsuki managed a store in Boston specializing in Japanese art and antiques. He also worked for governments and museums to appraise and inspect art objects and published a journal called Lotus. During the early 20th century, oriental designs were considered exotic and fashionable among well-to-do Americans, and Matsuki’s Boston store certainly contributed to the trend. Text from: www.publicartboston.com/content/japanese-lantern

The Public Garden, also known as Boston Public Garden, is a large park located in the heart of Boston, Massachusetts, adjacent to Boston Common. The Public Garden was established in 1837 when philanthropist Horace Gray petitioned for the use of land as the first public botanical garden in the United States. Text from: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public_Garden_ (Boston)

The Public Garden, also known as Boston Public Garden, is a large park located in the heart of Boston, Massachusetts, adjacent to Boston Common. The Public Garden was established in 1837 when philanthropist Horace Gray petitioned for the use of land as the first public botanical garden in the United States. Text from: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public_Garden_ (Boston)

The Public Garden, also known as Boston Public Garden, is a large park located in the heart of Boston, Massachusetts, adjacent to Boston Common. The Public Garden was established in 1837 when philanthropist Horace Gray petitioned for the use of land as the first public botanical garden in the United States. Text from: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public_Garden_ (Boston)

The Public Garden, also known as Boston Public Garden, is a large park located in the heart of Boston, Massachusetts, adjacent to Boston Common. The Public Garden was established in 1837 when philanthropist Horace Gray petitioned for the use of land as the first public botanical garden in the United States. Text from: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public_Garden_ (Boston)

The Public Garden, also known as Boston Public Garden, is a large park located in the heart of Boston, Massachusetts, adjacent to Boston Common. The Public Garden was established in 1837 when philanthropist Horace Gray petitioned for the use of land as the first public botanical garden in the United States. Text from: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public_Garden_ (Boston)

The Public Garden, also known as Boston Public Garden, is a large park located in the heart of Boston, Massachusetts, adjacent to Boston Common. The Public Garden was established in 1837 when philanthropist Horace Gray petitioned for the use of land as the first public botanical garden in the United States. Text from: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public_Garden_ (Boston)

The Public Garden, also known as Boston Public Garden, is a large park located in the heart of Boston, Massachusetts, adjacent to Boston Common. The Public Garden was established in 1837 when philanthropist Horace Gray petitioned for the use of land as the first public botanical garden in the United States. Text from: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public_Garden_ (Boston)

The Public Garden, also known as Boston Public Garden, is a large park located in the heart of Boston, Massachusetts, adjacent to Boston Common. The Public Garden was established in 1837 when philanthropist Horace Gray petitioned for the use of land as the first public botanical garden in the United States. Text from: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public_Garden_ (Boston)

Make Way for Ducklings Artist: Nancy Schön Location: Boston Public Garden, near Beacon St. and Charles St. Neighborhood: Back Bay Type: Sculpture Year: 1987 Medium: Bronze Funders: Friends of the Public Garden Description: A favorite Boston landmark, this sculpture by Nancy Schön was created in 1987 to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the Public Garden. It pays tribute to Robert McCloskey’s popular children book, written in 1941, about a family of ducks who make their home here. To reach the lagoon in the Public Garden, Mrs. Mallard, the mother duck, leads her babies across a series of dangerous streets assisted by a friendly police officer. Because of the story’s close association with Boston, no replicas exist in other cities, with the exception of an installation in Gorky Park in Moscow at the request of Russian First Lady Raisa Gorbachev. Text from: www.publicartboston.com/content/make-way-ducklings

Make Way for Ducklings Artist: Nancy Schön Location: Boston Public Garden, near Beacon St. and Charles St. Neighborhood: Back Bay Type: Sculpture Year: 1987 Medium: Bronze Funders: Friends of the Public Garden Description: A favorite Boston landmark, this sculpture by Nancy Schön was created in 1987 to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the Public Garden. It pays tribute to Robert McCloskey’s popular children book, written in 1941, about a family of ducks who make their home here. To reach the lagoon in the Public Garden, Mrs. Mallard, the mother duck, leads her babies across a series of dangerous streets assisted by a friendly police officer. Because of the story’s close association with Boston, no replicas exist in other cities, with the exception of an installation in Gorky Park in Moscow at the request of Russian First Lady Raisa Gorbachev. Text from: www.publicartboston.com/content/make-way-ducklings

Make Way for Ducklings Artist: Nancy Schön Location: Boston Public Garden, near Beacon St. and Charles St. Neighborhood: Back Bay Type: Sculpture Year: 1987 Medium: Bronze Funders: Friends of the Public Garden Description: A favorite Boston landmark, this sculpture by Nancy Schön was created in 1987 to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the Public Garden. It pays tribute to Robert McCloskey’s popular children book, written in 1941, about a family of ducks who make their home here. To reach the lagoon in the Public Garden, Mrs. Mallard, the mother duck, leads her babies across a series of dangerous streets assisted by a friendly police officer. Because of the story’s close association with Boston, no replicas exist in other cities, with the exception of an installation in Gorky Park in Moscow at the request of Russian First Lady Raisa Gorbachev. Text from: www.publicartboston.com/content/make-way-ducklings

Small Child Fountain Artist: Mary E. Moore Location: Boston Public Garden, near Arlington St. Neighborhood: Back Bay Type: Sculptural fountain Year: 1929 Medium: Bronze and Granite Description: This diminutive, playful figure provides a refreshing break from the many sculptures on the Public Art Walk commemorating lofty historical figures. Local sculptor Mary E. Moore has captured the unselfconsciousness of a child busily exploring the world. The child’s nudity, along with his pudgy limbs, brings to mind Renaissance depictions of putti—little winged creatures that are sometimes depicted as messengers from heaven and other times used to represent Cupid. Moore was born in Taunton, MA, and taught at Brookline’s Beaver Country Day School. Text from: www.publicartboston.com/content/small-child-fountain

Small Child Fountain Artist: Mary E. Moore Location: Boston Public Garden, near Arlington St. Neighborhood: Back Bay Type: Sculptural fountain Year: 1929 Medium: Bronze and Granite Description: This diminutive, playful figure provides a refreshing break from the many sculptures on the Public Art Walk commemorating lofty historical figures. Local sculptor Mary E. Moore has captured the unselfconsciousness of a child busily exploring the world. The child’s nudity, along with his pudgy limbs, brings to mind Renaissance depictions of putti—little winged creatures that are sometimes depicted as messengers from heaven and other times used to represent Cupid. Moore was born in Taunton, MA, and taught at Brookline’s Beaver Country Day School. Text from: www.publicartboston.com/content/small-child-fountain