Manitoba's Golden Boy- A Historical Monument

The Golden Boy, which is probably Manitoba's best known symbol, stands at a height of 17.2 feet from his feet to the top of the torch. The boy is a... more

by Larry Trupp

Title

Manitoba's Golden Boy- A Historical Monument

Artist

Larry Trupp

Medium

Photograph - Photography/digital Art

Description

The Golden Boy, which is probably Manitoba's best known symbol, stands at a height of 17.2 feet from his feet to the top of the torch. The boy is a runner, like the messengers in Greek mythology. He carries a sheaf of golden grain in his left arm, while his right hand holds high a torch, calling youth to enter the race...From the ground, the Golden Boy is 250 feet in the air where he looks out to the North representing its importance as a provider of natural resources and the endless economic opportunities.

A man from Paris, Charles Gardet, created this statue in 1918, but due to its eventful journey during the war, it was not until November 1st, 1919 that the 3,650 pound statue was placed atop the Manitoba Legislative Building. In the 1940's the bronze statue was painted gold and in 1951 it was covered in a thing layer of twenty-four carat gold. By 2002, repairs were needed to the Golden Boy statue which had stood atop the Legislative Building for 83 years, and it was lowered to the ground where a company re-gilded it with 23.75 k gold leaf. It was returned to the dome, where floodlights highlight the Golden Boy during the evening hours.

Scaping the sky atop the Provincial Legislative Buildings in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada is the Golden Boy.

Uploaded

October 28th, 2013