Carl Emil Milles 1875 - 1955

Born near Upsala Sweden in 1875, Carl Emile Milles trained in woodworking, cabinetmaking, carving and modeling. After studying in Paris from 1897-1904, Milles traveled through Europe before ultimately settling down in Stockholm, Sweden. 1917 marks the beginning of Milles' mature style; dissatisfied with his prior work he destroyed all of the sculptures and models in his studio to free himself from earlier influences. Beginning again, Milles emerged with a new style where elegance, motion and gesture were paramount. In 1917-18, shortly after this transformation, he created Naiad Riding a Dolphin (Sol Glitter). The artist moved to the United States in 1931 after accepting a position as sculptor in residence at Cranbrook Academy of Art Museum in Detroit, Michigan where he executed whimsical fountains uniting water and bronze. His works remain on display at the Cranbrook Academy of Art Museum as well as the Brookfield Gardens in Pawleys Island, South Carolina.