Golden Boy (Manitoba)

Last updated
The Golden Boy
Eternal Youth and the Spirit of Enterprise
Golden Boy MB Legislature.jpg
Artist Georges Gardet
Year1918
Medium Gilded bronze statue
Dimensions525 cm(207 in)
Weight1,650 kg
Location Manitoba Legislative Building, Winnipeg, Manitoba

The Golden Boy (official name: Eternal Youth and the Spirit of Enterprise) [1] [2] is a northward-facing statue perched on the dome of the Manitoba Legislative Building in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. Arguably the province's best-known symbol, [3] the statue was modeled after the Roman god Mercury (Greek: Hermes) and is meant to represent the prosperity and entrepreneurial spirit of Manitoba. [1]

Contents

The statue depicts a nude young man running forward carrying a torch in one hand and a bundle of wheat in the other.

Weighing 1,650 kilograms (3,640 lb), it stands 5.25 metres (17.2 ft) tall from the toe to the top of the torch, and 4.27 metres (14.0 ft) from head to toe. When first installed, the tip of his torch—at 77 metres (253 ft) above ground—was the tallest point in all of Winnipeg. [4]

With the exception of several months in 2002 when the statue was lowered for restoration (including regilding), the Golden Boy has stood atop the Legislative Building since its opening. [3]

History

Background

The Golden Boy was conceived during the backdrop of World War I by British-born architect Frank Worthington Simon, who also designed the Manitoba Legislative Building that the figure would adorn. [5]

The construction of the Canadian Pacific Railway began to open the West in the late-19th century, and as result, thousands of immigrants began settling in and near Winnipeg in 1881. By 1911, the population of Manitoba had increased over seven-fold, to 461,394. That year, as the province was rich in natural resources, and Winnipeg (its capital) was a hub for agriculture, grain trade, and other enterprises, the Government of Manitoba announced plans to construct a new legislature, which Manitoba politicians hoped to represent this emerging strength and vitality. Being judged as best reflecting this goal, Simon's designs intended to create a building of inspiration, and his 'crowning glory' would be the statue positioned at its highest point. [5]

Creation

In the summer of 1915, Simon commissioned Parisian sculptor Georges Gardet to create the statue. Over the next 18 months or so, the men exchanged transatlantic letters and drawings regularly. These documents are now preserved at the Archives of Manitoba in Winnipeg. [5]

Simon prepared the shaft for statue to be built in two parts: the upper part, extending from the statue to the centre of the ball where it would fit into the coupling, was to be built in France. The lower part of the shaft would be built in Winnipeg, upon delivery of the statue. [5] As both metals and lathes were needed for the war effort, obtaining even basic materials for the statue was difficult; in a memo to the Manitoba Minister of Public Works in December 1917, Simon explained that it "was impossible to obtain [the shaft] either in England or in France owing to war conditions". Eventually the upper shaft was constructed in Chicago and shipped to France. Simon had also wished for the statue to be cast from one piece of material without any joints or seams. Given the metal shortage in France, however, several smaller pieces were used. [5]

Purchased by the Government of Manitoba from France, the statue was completed by Gardet in 1918, cast in bronze by the Barbedienne Foundry. The factory was bombed but the statue was not damaged. [1] [4] [5]

Delivery

The Manitoba Legislative Building Winnipeg - Legislative Bldgs.jpg
The Manitoba Legislative Building

The statue was placed in the hold of a freight ship for transport to Canada. The ship was then commandeered for war service and directed to transport allied troops and supplies. The statue remained in the ship for the remainder of the War, making two trips across the Mediterranean and five transatlantic crossings. [1]

The statue arrived in Halifax, Nova Scotia, and was shipped by train to Winnipeg, where it was placed atop the Manitoba Legislative Building on 21 November 1919, in time for the official opening of the Legislative Building in 1920. [3]

Although made of bronze, the statue—originally and officially titled 'Eternal Youth and the Spirit of Enterprise'—was nicknamed 'Golden Boy' from the onset, as the new bronze figure shined and reflected the sun, making the figure appear to be made of gold. [4]

The final cost of the Golden Boy—including expenses related to designing, creating, casting, transporting, and lifting the statue to the top of the Legislature dome—totalled CA$13,240.73. [5]

Renovation and restoration

The Golden Boy viewed from the front. Golden Boy 2012.jpg
The Golden Boy viewed from the front.

In the 1940s, the bronze statue was painted gold. This would be followed in 1951 by its first gilding with 50,000 square inches of 23.5-carat gold leaf, measuring 3.25 square inches per sheet. [1] [5] In 1966, the Government of Manitoba had an electric lamp installed atop the torch of the statue, which was first lit on 31 December 1966 to mark Canada's centennial celebrations in 1967. [1]

In 2002, the statue required repair because rust was accumulating on the inside of its hollow core and its iron supports were eroding away; [1] Alpha Masonry, the general contractor for the restoration project, lowered the statue to the ground for a complete overhaul and regilding. On 9 February 2002, the Golden Boy returned to the ground in a custom-made aluminum cage after almost 83 years in place. [6]

In August 2002, the statue was regilded with a micro-thin coat of 23.75-karat gold leaf in a climate-controlled enclosure in full view of the public. During the restoration, the statue was also placed on public display at the Manitoba Museum and at the Forks National Historic Site. [1] [5] Prepared by Bristol Aerospace with a custom-manufactured paint from Germany, the statue was regilded using 4,000 sheets of extra-heavy gold leaf. [4] A new steel support post was installed by ISIS Canada, accompanied by a structural health monitoring system [5] —monitors and gauges for measuring vibrations and strain as well as for wind stress and temperature effect on the statue and support structure. [1]

The Golden Boy was returned to the Legislative Building and re-installed on the dome on 5 September 2002. It was rededicated by Queen Elizabeth II, Queen of Canada, during her 2002 Golden Jubilee tour of Canada the following month. The restoration cost a total of CA$1.1 million. The regilding cost $34,000, with the gold-leaf costing $5,600. [5]

The new gilding is expected to last about 25 to 30 years. Since its restoration, the Golden Boy's torch is no longer lit because its electrical cord had been one of the causes for the rust found in 2002. Instead, it is lit at night by floodlights. [1]

Symbolism

The Golden Boy atop the Manitoba Legislature GoldenBoyWinnipeg.JPG
The Golden Boy atop the Manitoba Legislature

The Golden Boy was modelled on Giovanni da Bologna's 16th-century sculpture of the Roman messenger god of trade, profit and commerce, Mercury. [1] [7] The sheaf of wheat in the statue' left arm represents the fruits of labour, while the torch in its right hand represents a call to youth to join his eternal pursuit of a more prosperous future. The statue faces in a north direction, pointing towards the Manitoba region to symbolize its importance as a provider of important natural resources and economic opportunity.

"Manitoba Golden Boy" is a traditional fiddle tune in the statue's honour. The chorus includes the following:

He’s the symbol of success
At the gateway to the west
And he’s our legendary pride and joy.

Related Research Articles

<i>Progress of the State</i> Sculpture at the Minnesota State Capitol

Progress of the State is the title of a group of sculptural figures that sits above the south portico, at the main entrance to the Minnesota State Capitol in Saint Paul, the state capital of the U.S. state of Minnesota.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Government House (Manitoba)</span>

Government House of Manitoba is the official residence of the lieutenant governor of Manitoba, as well as that in Winnipeg of the Canadian monarch. It stands in the provincial capital, on the grounds of the Manitoba Legislative Building, at 10 Kennedy Street; unlike other provincial Government Houses in Canada, this gives Manitoba's royal residence a prominent urban setting, though it is surrounded by gardens.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Winnipeg Wesmen</span> Athletic teams representing University of Winnipeg

The Winnipeg Wesmen are the athletic teams that represent the University of Winnipeg in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. As an undergraduate school, the Wesmen participate in the sports of basketball, volleyball, and soccer in both the men's and women's divisions of U Sports. All home games are played at the Duckworth Centre, located on the university's downtown Winnipeg campus. The Wesmen previously competed in men's baseball as a single-sport member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) until the program was cut after the 2017 season.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rhode Island State House</span> State capitol building of the U.S. state of Rhode Island

The Rhode Island State House, the capitol of the state of Rhode Island, is located at 900 Smith Street just below the crest of Smith Hill, on the border of downtown in Providence. It is a neoclassical building designed by McKim, Mead & White which features the fourth largest structural-stone dome in the world, topped by a gilded statue of "The Independent Man", representing freedom and independence. The building houses the Rhode Island General Assembly – the state House of Representatives is located in the west wing, and the Senate in the east – and the offices of the governor, lieutenant governor, secretary of state, and general treasurer of Rhode Island. Other state offices are located in separate buildings on a campus just north of the State House.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Manitoba Legislative Building</span>

The Manitoba Legislative Building, originally named the Manitoba Parliament Building, is the meeting place of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba, located in central Winnipeg, as well as being the twelfth provincial heritage site of Manitoba. Along with the Legislative Assembly, the building also accommodates the offices for Manitoba's Lieutenant Governor and the Executive Council.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Statue of Timothy Eaton</span>

There are two castings of the well-known statue of Timothy Eaton, the famous Canadian retailer: one in Toronto, Ontario, the other in Winnipeg, Manitoba.

Hundreds of replicas of the Statue of Liberty have been created worldwide. The original Statue of Liberty, designed by sculptor Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi, is 151 feet tall and stands on a pedestal that is 154 feet tall, making the height of the entire sculpture 305 feet.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Winnipeg arts and culture</span>

Winnipeg is well known across the prairies for its arts and culture.

Miguel Joyal is a Canadian-born artist and sculptor.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Frank Albo</span> Canadian architectural historian

Frank Albo is a Canadian architectural historian. Albi is an adjunct professor of history at the University of Winnipeg. He specializes in architecture, Freemasonry, and the Western esoteric tradition. He is the author of Astana: Architecture, Myth, and Destiny (2017).

<i>Oregon Pioneer</i> Sculpture in Salem, Oregon, U.S.

Oregon Pioneer, also known as Gold Man, is an eight-and-a-half ton bronze sculpture with gold leaf finish that sits atop the Oregon State Capitol in Salem, Oregon, United States. Created by Ulric Ellerhusen, the statue is a 22 ft (7 m)-tall hollow sculpture. The gilded piece was installed atop the building in 1938 when a new capitol was built.

<i>Statue of Louis Riel</i> Sculpture of Louis Riel by John Cullen Nugent

The Louis Riel sculpture is a monument to Louis Riel located on the grounds of the Manitoba Legislative Building in Winnipeg. Commissioned by the Manitoba Metis Federation (MMF) and sculpted by Miguel Joyal, the statue is located on the building's south grounds and faces the Assiniboine River.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">History of Winnipeg</span>

The history of Winnipeg comprises its initial population of Aboriginal peoples through its settlement by Europeans to the present day. The first forts were built on the future site of Winnipeg in the 1700s, followed by the Selkirk Settlement in 1812. Winnipeg was incorporated as a city in 1873 and experienced dramatic growth in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Following the end of World War I, the city's importance as a commercial centre in Western Canada began to wane. Winnipeg and its suburbs experienced significant population growth after 1945, and the current City of Winnipeg was created by the unicity amalgamation in 1972.

This is a timeline of the history of Winnipeg.

<i>The Boy with the Leaking Boot</i> Statue showing a young boy, with a bare right foot, holding up his right boot and looking at it

The Boy with the Leaking Boot is a statue showing a young boy, with a bare right foot, holding up his right boot and looking at it. The statue is about 4 feet (1.2 m) tall, and in many cases forms a fountain, with water emerging from the toe of the boot. There are at least 24, and reportedly "hundreds" of examples. The origins of the statue are obscure. The boy is reported to be a young Italian newspaper seller who drowned, or an American army drummer-boy who carried water in his leaking boot to help fallen comrades, or a young fire-fighter either using his boot in a bucket chain or emptying his boot after an incident, or possibly none of these. The statue has also been called The Boy with the Leaky Boot, Boy Immigrant and Unfortunate Boot.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Georges Gardet</span> French painter

Georges Gardet was a French sculptor and animalier.

<i>Diana</i> (Saint-Gaudens) Statue by Augustus Saint-Gaudens

Diana – also known as Diana of the Tower – is an iconic statue by sculptor Augustus Saint-Gaudens, representing the goddess Diana. Once a major artistic feature of New York City, the second version stood atop the tower of Madison Square Garden from 1893 to 1925. Since 1932, it has been in the collection of the Philadelphia Museum of Art.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Statue of Queen Victoria (Winnipeg)</span> Public sculpture by George Frampton

A statue of Queen Victoria formerly stood on the grounds of the Manitoba Legislative Building in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pedimental sculptures in Canada</span> List of notable pedimental sculptures in Canada

Pedimental sculptures are sculptures within the frame of a pediment on the exterior of a building, some examples of which can be found in Canada. Pedimental sculpture poses special challenges to sculptors: the triangular composition limits the choices for figures or ornament at the ends, and the sculpture must be designed to be viewed both from below and from a distance.

The 2002 royal tour of Canada by Elizabeth II, Queen of Canada, and her consort Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, took place from 4 to 15 October 2002. The Queen and the Duke toured the Canadian provinces of British Columbia, New Brunswick, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, Saskatchewan, and the territory of Nunavut in celebration of her Golden Jubilee as Canada's Queen.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 "Golden Boy fact sheet." Government of Manitoba.
  2. "Did You Know? | Things to do in Winnipeg such as The Forks and Assiniboine Park Zoo | Destination Winnipeg". Archived from the original on 2007-04-04. Retrieved 2007-04-15.
  3. 1 2 3 "Province of Manitoba — Legislative Tour". Archived from the original on 2011-08-07. Retrieved 2017-08-29.
  4. 1 2 3 4 Benedicston, Megan. 2019 November 19. "Eternal youth at 100: The Golden Boy who has watched over Manitoba for a century." CTV News Winnipeg.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 "Golden Boy". 14 September 2008.
  6. University of Manitoba – Faculty of Engineering – Design Application Archived 2006-05-20 at the Wayback Machine
  7. Web Gallery of Art, image collection, virtual museum, searchable database of European fine arts (1100-1850)

49°53′04″N97°08′48″W / 49.88444°N 97.14667°W / 49.88444; -97.14667