Carl Milles was a Swedish sculptor, mainly active in Europe but also in the US. Milles is known for his fountains and works on a monumental scale. Milles studied at the University College of Arts, Crafts & Design in Stockholm, which was known as Tekniska Skolan at that time, and later at the Ecole des Beaux-Arts in Paris under the tutelage of Auguste Rodin. He remained in Paris for several years and earned his living in part as a cabinet-maker. Milles participated at the Paris World’s Fair in 1900 where he received a silver medal. His big breakthrough came when he was commissioned to create the Sten Sture monument in Uppsala, which was unveiled in 1925. He was subsequently commissioned to decorate the Royal Dramatic Theatre in Stockholm. Milles has created a host of famous sculptures in public spaces, including the “Gustav Vasa” statue at Nordiska museet and the “Poseidon Fountain” in Gothenburg. Typical of Milles’ works are the archaic expressions and they are often made of bronze or plaster. Milles and his wife Olga donated their home Millesgården to the Swedish people and it is now a popular museum in Lidingö.
