|
Title:
|
Three Graces Fountain
|
Artist: |
|
This is a bronze copy of Germain Pilon's group of the Three
Graces (1561-65). The original marble group with its ornamented base, was designed
as a 'heart-burial' monument for the French king, Henri II, and as such stood
in the church of the Célestins in Paris. The Graces were designed to hold an
ornamental urn containing the king's heart. Desecrated during the French
Revolution, a new urn was subsequently added to the group, which is now in the
Musée du Louvre. The bronze copy does not include the urn, and has been
adapted as a drinking fountain.
The Ministry of Works papers, held in The National Archive
at Kew contain several interesting notes on the fountain. On 3 June 1864, we have
a note that Baron Marochetti is to send in a claim for £240 for a bronze group
after Pilon and to suggest how it can be adapted as a drinking fountain (TNA,
Work/1/76). Then on 19 December 1864 Marochetti is asked to accept the estimate
of £120 for the polished portion of the Drinking Fountain for Hampton Court,
the material to be grey Cornish granite; also £50 for the base (TNA, Work/1/78).
On 16 March 1865, he is asked to supply polished granite and base for the Drinking
Fountain. Then, finally on 7 September, he is written to, enquiring about delay
in erecting the drinking fountain (TNA, Work/1/80).
It is very likely that this bronze was cast in Marochetti's
own foundry in Sydney Mews off the Fulham Road. His only creative intervention
seems to consist of lion's head spouts for the drinking water, and shell-shaped
basins to receive the overflow.
|
|
|
Material(s): |
|
Medium: |
Unassigned |
Finish: |
- |
Technique: |
- |
Genre: |
Unassigned
|
Colours: |
|
Year: |
1865 |
Height: |
0 metres |
Width: |
0 metres |
Depth: |
0 metres |
|
Key: |
6162 |
Acc. No.: |
6162 |
Col. No.: |
6162 |
Number of views: |
2771 |
|
|