This is the Medicis Fountain, located in the Luxembourg gardens. It was originally built in the 1630's at the request of Marie de Medicis (an Italian Princess who married Henry the IVth) and was moved thirty meters closer to the Luxembourg Palace to accommodate the widening of a street (incidentally also called la rue de Médicis) in 1862. The statue group in the center, Polyphemus Surprising Acis and Galatea, by Ottin (1861), was not originally part of the fountain but was added at the time of the relocation. What is interesting is that this fountain is also used to show modern art, like this huge, impressive nose. I have been unable to find the name of the artist. Click here to see a broader view.
Update. Thanks to the talent of PDP readers (namely Frances and Elle44!) I know now who the artist is: Lotta Hannerz from Sweden. Thank you very much.
That is hands down the coolest fountain I've ever seen.
ReplyDeleteVery surreal. It looks like the photo has been created in Photoshop.
ReplyDeletehmm. that's interesting. beautiful fountain...but the profile, not so much
ReplyDeleteIt might as well have been created in Photoshop.
ReplyDeleteIs this thing for real? I've seen it before on the Internet but always thought it was a PhotoShop creation!! Wow... I'm amazed at the number of creations, new buildings, remodels, etc., that have happened in Paris over the last 15 years. Simply amazing!
ReplyDeleteThanks Eric for showing that picture. You've got flair! ;)
Has it been there long? I'm quite sure it wasn't there in March when I walked past the fountain!
ReplyDeleteWhat's underneath??? I love your closeup of this and like the long view just as much. A terrific shot, as usual; a terrific subject, as usual. You spoil us!
ReplyDeleteWow! Looks like something from Photoshop.
ReplyDeletethis is my favorite fountain in all of europe (of course, in my favorite park in all the world).
ReplyDeletei've always loved how the jardin de luxembourg showcases different artists. last summer i remember all the naked men in trees.
hmm, do you have a photo of them, eric?
Same question as "tomate farcie" : is it real?
ReplyDeleteIf it is, I guess it must be new and temporary (?)
I like this pic, the face/sculture is amazing, but it fits to this romantic area.
Still, I hope they won't leave it there for decades....
I have a clue:
ReplyDeleteI looks like Ron Mueck art (he exposed at "Fondation Cartier" early 2006). Could he be the artist for this face?
Look at this incredible realistic 'statue' from him which reminds the pic of Eric :
http://img.iskon.hr/kl/2003/04/24/0002009v.jpg
Excellent effect!
ReplyDeleteBrrr... Sacrément étrange, comme photo...
ReplyDeleteC'est vraiment tres gentil d'aller nous chercher des photos dans tous les coins de Paris! On apprecie beaucoup!
ReplyDeleteEric, tu as vraiment du nez pour nous présenter de chouettes photos ;-))
ReplyDeleteI love this place in the Luxembourg gardens, but never realised it was used to show modern art!!
ReplyDeleteI just love this photo !! so unreal. i thought it was reproduced by photoshop too... Thank you for having shown this... Again, you've let us discovered Paris by a simple click. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteExcellent!!! I'm not quite sure where everyone thinks Photoshop comes into play, but I agree with Haxo that it looks like Ron Mueck. It also coincides with his recent exhibit.
ReplyDeleteWhat I really like about art is that artists often see things that once it's created, the viewer says, "ah yeah...I could have done (thought about) that. It really looks like a giant is just floating in the water breathing the air.
My first thought was "Photoshop" too, because the face looks hyper-real and as if it was just collaged on top of the other image. Until you look at the water reflections. It also means your photo looks almost too perfect to be real! You are definitely too good to be true. Your photos are simply amazing and always make you stop...think...learn...enjoy
ReplyDeletethanks
haha, Eric, this one is so surreal!
ReplyDeleteWhat a fun picture. The nose certainly makes it feel surreal.
ReplyDeleteBonjour Eric,
ReplyDeleteI've lurked on this site since mid-December, checking every single day but never adding a comment -- until I saw this nose! We were in Paris from May 3rd 'til 12th and were lucky enough to be walking past the Medici Fountain just as the artist had finished installing it -- she was still in her chest waders, chatting with a couple who had watched her install it -- at least, from what we saw and overheard, we assumed she was the artist. I have two shots I love of the nose (I think the lips are great as well, actually) floating in the water and one of the artist's Blundstone boots sitting by themselves on the ground next to the railing. Thanks for the lovely reminder -- we had a great week and are already planning next year's visit.
I think we were all thinking of Photoshop and surreal. I don't think I've yet been to the Luxembourg Gardens. I'll have to put it on my to-do list.
ReplyDeleteBizarre -- and quite disturbing.
ReplyDeleteFunny how a lot of people thought of Photoshop when they saw this pic. I do understand but this time tis photo is REAL!
ReplyDeleteA special thanks to Frances who has been able th tell us more about this nose. We know now that it does not belong to Ron Mueck but to a women artist who might be Lotta Hannerz from Sweden (thak you also Elle44 for this).
Let's keep inquiring!
I've just Googled LOTTA HANNERZ and found this entry: "shows her water mobil Venus in the Médicis fountain in Jardin du Luxemburg in Paris from May 20 - September 24. venus. UNDER CONSTRUCTION ..." at this URL: www.knapperbaumgarten.com/welcome
ReplyDeleteBonjour Eric,
ReplyDeleteL'artiste en question est bien Lotta Hannerz et son oeuvre s'appelle "de la part de Vénus"
A moins que je sois un avatar dans un paris virtuel, je confirme aux lecteurs que ce nez est bien réel et vraiment très impressionnant...
Un fidèle lecteur!
I checked out the link frances from bc sent and the mystery is now solved. Thanks for that. I really would have loved to have seen this in person.
ReplyDeleteHey Eric! That nose was in Stockholm last year = )
ReplyDeleteAnd back then it was accompanied by a hand in the water. It looked really cool back then but the effect was´nt as great as this picture since it was placed in Stockholms open water.
Unfortunatly I don´t have any pictures of it, otherwise it would´ve been cool doing a linkup.
Great pictures as usual, I dont know where you find some of your situations but they are inspiring!
Ron Mueck ? Funny many bloggers have been thinking to him for I find this one much less disturbing and completely surreal…
ReplyDeleteAnyway, Eric, very nice shot (hadn't you shown one of Fontaine Médicis before) which make me think that I definitly should cross the river more often…
Nice...and interesting effect...
ReplyDeletehttp://singapourdailyphoto.blogspot.com/