Friday 7 December 2007

Nymph offering aniseed ball to prancing horse- # 315

In Twickenham, across the river from Richmond there is a grandiose fountain imported all the way from Italy in the 19th C by a wealthy fellow who appreciated art. This fountain is big, and this view is about 1/3 of it.

Actually it's quite a nice piece in its funny old way, if rather dated, and the town council recently spent a lot of money refurbishing it and fitting flood lights and new water pumps. What really amuses me is the nymph in the centre. Is she offering the horse an aniseed ball, or what?

2 comments:

  1. Errr...the more important question is: who's the naked lady on the horses?!?!? ;-)

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  2. The winged steeds make me think the goddess on top of them might be Selene, goddess of the moon. And the sea shell below with the goddess emerging from the water makes me think of Aphrodite -- born on the foam of the sea or on a shell.

    Perhaps she is offering Selene, goddess of the moon and love, the pearl -- the jewel of love.

    --steve buser
    New Orleans Daily Photo

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