Candlestick 1903

Ernest Thompson Seton’s Candlestick is a bronze sculpture featuring a stylized prairie dog embracing a cylindrical candle holder. The prairie dog stands erect on a rectangular base shaped like a book, its paws gripping the smooth, metallic shaft. The patina is a blend of brown and green, lending an aged, naturalistic feel to the sculpture. The composition plays with the juxtaposition of natural and constructed forms. The prairie dog, rendered with careful attention to texture and anatomical detail, contrasts with the geometric simplicity of the candle holder. This tension invites us to consider the relationship between the wild and the domestic, the organic and the artificial. The book base suggests knowledge and learning. It elevates the prairie dog, giving it a symbolic weight. The gesture of the animal embracing the candleholder could be interpreted as a commentary on the role of nature in illuminating our understanding, or perhaps a subtle critique of human attempts to harness and control the natural world. The candlestick's design engages with broader cultural discourses of environmentalism and our connection to the natural world.