Carl Milles faced a specific challenge when creating the Diana fountain for the Tändstickspalatset courtyard in Stockholm. The narrow layout of the space required a creative solution to ensure the bronze figure remained visible from all sides. The courtyard completely surrounds the fountain, making it the center of the space.
Milles solved this by positioning Diana in the middle of an upward dance step with her head turned slightly back. To contribute to a light impression, the base of the fountain is decorated with upward-reaching plants. A deer and a wild boar stand at the corners of the entrance, watching Diana and creating an interaction between the centerpiece and its surroundings.
The courtyard was built for the financier Ivar Kreuger, and the fountain serves as its central focus. The harmony between the architecture and the art is so balanced that it is unclear whether the courtyard was created for the fountain or vice versa.
Visitors can still view the original 1928 masterpiece in Stockholm today. A variation from 1929–1930 also exists at Skytteholms herrgård on Ekerö. In that version, the base of trees and plants is replaced by two urns, one of which is decorated with hunting scenes.
Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons
Written by Nik Frost
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