Littlefield Fountain is a monument by Italian-born sculptor

Sculpture

Sculpture is three-dimensional artwork created by shaping or combining hard materials—typically stone such as marble—or metal, glass, or wood. Softer materials can also be used, such as clay, textiles, plastics, polymers and softer metals...

 Pompeo Coppini

Pompeo Coppini

Pompeo Luigi Coppini was an Italian sculptor who emigrated to the United States. Although his works can be found in Italy, Mexico and a number of American states, the majority of his work can be found in Texas...

, located on the main campus of The University of Texas at Austin

University of Texas at Austin

The University of Texas at Austin is a state research university located in Austin, Texas, USA, and is the flagship institution of the The University of Texas System. Founded in 1883, its campus is located approximately from the Texas State Capitol in Austin...

 in Austin, Texas

Austin, Texas

Austin is the capital city of the U.S. state of :Texas and the seat of Travis County. Located in Central Texas on the eastern edge of the American Southwest, it is the fourth-largest city in Texas and the 14th most populous city in the United States. It was the third-fastest-growing large city in...

.

The fountain was built with money from a $250,000 trust established by Major George W. Littlefield

George W. Littlefield

George Washington Littlefield was a Confederate officer, cattleman, banker, and regent of the University of Texas. Born in Mississippi, Littlefield moved to Texas with his family as a boy.-Early life:George W...

 as a memorial for University of Texas students and alumni who died in The Great War, now commonly known as World War I

World War I

World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...

. It was unveiled in 1933, at a time when the Old Main Building

Main Building of The University of Texas at Austin

The Main Building is a structure at the center of the University of Texas campus in Austin, Texas, United States...

was still in use.

The memorial fountain is enscribed in Latin with BREVIS A NATURA NOBIS VITA DATA EST AT MEMORIA BENE REDDITAE VITAE SEMPITERA. Translation - A short life hath been given by Nature unto man; but the remembrance of a life laid down in a good cause endureth forever. Beneath this enscription is a memorial bronze plaque that lists all UT students and alumni killed in The Great War.