Pre-order Joy of the Waters

This faithful 13-inch tall replica depicts Harriet Frishmuth's 1917 bronze sculpture Joy of the Waters, one of the most popular works at the Dayton Art Institute.  It was the first object to enter the collection when the museum opened in 1919, a gift from the museum's founding benefactress, Julia Shaw Patterson Carnell.  Designed as a fountain, the sculpture was originally placed outside the museum's first home on Monument Avenue.  After the museum moved to its present location in 1930, Joy was again placed in an outdoor fountain, this time in the Italian (now Hale) Cloister.  Exposure to water and the elements ultimately turned the bronze various shades of green.  After moving the sculpture indoors, conservation conducted in 2006 restored the sculpture's original patina.  

The exuberance of the elegant figure highlights Frishmuth's skill depicting the female form. This sculpture is made of crushed stone resin, cast and finished by hand by Museum Masterworks Inc.

Each purchase helps support the Dayton Art Institute.

This item is not eligible for free shipping. Limited quantity available.

Statues expected by early May 2025 but not guaranteed.

• Standing 12¾ inches tall on a sturdy 4-inch square base, it reaches a total height of 13½ inches