A Lovely “Adagio”

Since the summer of 1937, visitors to the DIA’s Alger House Museum, currently known as The War Memorial, have enjoyed a beautiful, placid statue of a gracefully draped young woman standing atop a tall pedestal. The name of this calming sculptural piece is “Adagio”.

German artisan Georg Kolbe modeled her in 1923 of bronze with a green-gold patina. She was purchased in 1934 by the Garden Club of Michigan to honor their beloved former president Esther Longyear Murphy, the highly acclaimed painter, writer, garden lecturer, and floral designer/arranger.

Esther was first married to Dr. Theodore A. McGraw, Jr. and they lived in the first house built in Indian Village before moving to 355 Lincoln Road in Grosse Pointe. The doctor passed in 1924 shortly after moving in, but Esther stayed in the imposing 8700 sq. ft. mansion with its fabulous Ellen Shipman-designed gardens until her marriage in 1929 to Dr. Fred T. Murphy. She then moved into “The Hedges”, Dr. Murphy’s residence nearby at 17620 E. Jefferson. But their marriage was brief as in January of 1934, Esther died suddenly while in Philadelphia for a series of garden lectures.

In her 52 years, Esther had acquired many devotees and friends. When the presentation of “Adagio” in 1937 was made by the Garden Club of Michigan to the Alger House Museum in her memory, a spot was carefully chosen. She was placed against two Mankato limestone wall panels upon a pedestal of the same material, both created by the great Eero Saarinen. The left panel was inscribed with her name; the second panel bore a passage from William Cullen Bryant: “All the beauty of the place is in thy heart.” The memorial was in the “arbor” at the end of the pergola by the newly under construction knot gardens. The greenery flanking the pathway and surrounding the memorial was designed and executed by Mrs. Dexter M. (Jeannette) Ferry, Jr.

After the Alger House Museum closed, the wall panels were destroyed but the pedestal and statue were brought indoors. If one wishes to view “Adagio” today, her serene presence graces the master staircase landing of The War Memorial.