Friday, January 27, 2012

Pont Neuf ornaments


Cool, isn't? I took this photo on the Pont Neuf (Paris experts will have recognized the stunning Henri the IVth statue in the background) yesterday, on my way to the left bank. I searched the Web and apparently these candelabres (street lamps) were installed by Victor Baltard in 1854. They show sea gods and dolphins. Beautiful...

17 comments:

  1. Gorgeous street lamps and the detail is stunning!

    ReplyDelete
  2. They are très cool, Eric. Exquisite! And I love the composition. A beauty.

    ReplyDelete
  3. *right click
    *set as background
    *choose yes

    Done.

    ReplyDelete
  4. i love sea gods and dolphins.....and these!

    ReplyDelete
  5. That is the reason why I love Paris. One always finds something special. Thank you Eric

    ReplyDelete
  6. They are absolutely breathtaking, Eric. I have photographed the bases of the same streetlamps in the past.

    ReplyDelete
  7. J'aime Renaissance dolphins. Bernini fountains in Rome, Florentine sculptures in the Bargello, they are great. Clearly, none of these artists saw a real dolphin or else they are just a stylized convention. Either way, they are tres cool. And these 1854 versions are no less lovely.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Gorgeous. And I love how you framed dear Henri.

    See, this is the thing about Paris, at least in the old parts of town. Beauty and art, everywhere you look.

    ReplyDelete
  9. That is one of the reasons to fall in love with Paris,and to walk the streets, all these beautiful details every where.

    ReplyDelete
  10. eric, a week ago yesterday i fell on icy snow and broke my arm. so i haven't been commenting -- but for this awesome shot, i gotta henpeck a big thunbs up!!:)

    ReplyDelete
  11. Bee-you-ti-full! Can you imagine the fun that the sculptor had knowing his work would be admired by so many people literally centuries later?? How very cool. :) Happy Friday, everyone!

    ReplyDelete
  12. At Trishia, OMG, how scarey -- you poor dear. I hope your arm mends quickly and without any problems.

    Judging by -- what looks to be a crown, I would say that that sea god is King Neptune the god of water and the sea. I noticed water deities on other bridges in Paris. I like it.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Love the way you framed Henri! And thanks—I took a closeup of one of these when I was there and then without context couldn't remember where I'd taken the picture. Aha!

    ReplyDelete
  14. Thanks everyone, I'm glad you too enjoy these "small details" that make a difference.
    @Trishia "eric, a week ago yesterday i fell on icy snow and broke my arm." Awwww I'm sorry to hear that and touched that you commented despite your broken arm. My turn to give you two thumbs up!

    ReplyDelete
  15. I'm not original at all, but Pont Neuf is my favorite bridge in Paris... these details made me sigh.

    ReplyDelete
  16. a week ago yesterday i fell on icy snow and broke my arm. so i haven't been commenting -- but for this awesome shot, i gotta henpeck a big thunbs up!!:)

    ReplyDelete