Nymph Returns to Carlos Place

The statue of a Nymph that stood outside the Connaught Hotel in Carlos Place, Mayfair has returned.

This somewhat clumsy piece had been removed to allow the installation of the magnificent new Tadao Ando water feature. It's old plinth now stands in Mount Street Gardens. This week the nymph returned to squat in Carlos Place.

The statue is by Emilio Greco and dates to 1973. The inscription reminds us that the fountain and statue were "‘A gift to the City of Westminster from the President of the Italian Republic 20th November 1987. Sponsored by the Italian Banks in London". The good people at London Remembers tell me that an identical statue is located in Padua.

The statue certainly looks happier on it's new marble plinth but somehow it seems to detract from the Ando just a few feet behind.

The Ando fountain, Silence,  was bound to overshadow anything in it's immediate proximity, so perhaps the nymph should have travelled just a few yards further, together with it's old plinth, to Mount Street Gardens?

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E J Clack to Move Centre Stage at Green Park Station

This water-fountain and statue that stood in The Green Park for over 50 years has been permanently removed from it's original location.

This is the site now, tarmac is being removed , the pinth, fountain and statue are long gone.

But they will be back with a vengeance in 2012, when the work at Green Park Station is complete.

Green Park Station and the surrounding area are currently undergoing major works, in time for the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Part of the scheme includes a brand new entrance to the Tube station direct from the park. When it is complete, this fountain will be re-sited as the centrepiece of this new entrance.

 

The statue is "Diana of the Treetops" by Estcourt J. Clack originally unveiled in 1954. In the base is a water fountain and even a water fountain for dogs.

Estcourt J. Clack, known as Jim, was a full-time woodwork teacher at Blundell's School in Halberton, Devon. He won a competition to produce this fountain. It is one of the many fountains commissioned by the Constance Fund in London.

The Constance Fund was set up artist Sigismund C.H.Goetze's widow, Constance,  in his memory. Its aim was “to encourage and promote the art of sculpture in London Parks.”.

The only other EJ Clack I know of in London, is the Charles Dickens Plaque on Marylebone Road. I am pleased that this, his previously lesser seen work, will now be in such a prominent position. Who knows, there may even be postcards of it by this time next year and "Jim Clack" might soon be a household name!

More on the history of this fountain from the National Archives here

London's Newest and Most Beautiful Water Feature?

The fountain and statue that recently stood in Carlos Place, opposite the Connaught Hotel, have had a dramatic upgrade.

Outside the Connaught now, is this!

The kidney shaped infinity pool in the background has replaced the old fountain. The mirror smooth surface of the water plays across glass lenses. The materials and finish are absolutely immaculate.

For most of the time the water calmly trickles serenely over the edge but periodically vents around the two trees, encircled by the pool, begin to emit a beautiful mist. And then this happens:

It is  surprising, exciting and relaxing all at once, quite the most beautiful water feature I think I have ever seen. My video doesn't do it justice and I hear that when it is lit up at night it looks even better.

The work is by Tadao Ando, one of Japan's most respected architects, and a man often referred to as "the world 's greatest living architect." The piece is entitled "Silence". It has been jointly commissioned by the Connaught Hotel, The Grosvenor Estate and Westminster City Council.

Previously the site had been home to another fountain and a statue of a nymph. Both were ""‘A Gift to the City of Westminster from the President of the Italian Republic 20th November 1987. Sponsored by the Italian Banks in London"

The statue of a nymph will shortly be returning to the new plinth you can see in front of the fountain. Whilst the original  base of the fountain is now in nearby Mount Street Gardens.

 

The original statue is by Emilio Greco and dates to 1973. 

More on Tadao Ando here. Is this his only London work?

I will post again, after the official unveiling, when the statue is in place and the ensemble is complete

A Drinking Fountain for Dogs

This drinking fountain was designed for dogs but is appreciated by pigeons too. It stands near the Palace Gate in Kensington Gardens and is a memorial to Esme Percy.

 

Esmé Saville Percy (1887–1957),  was an English actor, manager and producer who studied under  Sarah Bernhardt and worked with George Bernard Shaw though he is now all but forgotten. The sculpture of the dog in bronze is by Silvia Gilley and the memorial was erected in 1961.

The Other Triton Fountain

Many people know the Triton Fountain in Regent's Park London but many more walk past another Triton fountain in London without ever realising it.

The two fountains in Trafalgar Square were switched off today for some urgent maintenance. A fault in them flooded the tube last week! It was a good opportunity to take some photos.


The two sets of bronze fountains were produced by two different sculptors, Sir Charles Wheeler and William McMillan, each set sitting within the stone pools beneath the original fountains designed by Edwin Lutyens. They were commissioned by Parliament to commemorate two First World War Admirals, Jellicoe and Beattie.

Wheeler produced the westerly memorial fountains to Jellicoe and a bust of the Admiral that stands to the north of the Square. The two groups of figures are:

The Mermaid Group

The Triton Group

Classics wasn't a strength at my truly vile comprehensive school, so I needed to resort to Wikipedia for assistance on the significance of "Triton". If like me, you are mythologically challenged, answers can be found here.

This is Wheeler's accompanying bust of Jellicoe.

I am a big fan of Wheeler, he was so incredibly versatile. More of his statuary, including examples in Trafalgar Square to follow.