In recent years, a very particular fountain is located opposite the north exit of the Cerro Santa Lucia, where streets converge Subercaseaux Victoria and Santa Lucia Merced. It is the place where, until the end of colonial times, was a rock formation traversed by a stream derived from the Mapocho, which the English called the Alto del Puerto .
The source of Neptune and Amphitrite , To which we refer, is exactly the point where the old structure began natural, dynamited in the early nineteenth century. He is currently the site of today face off against two popular and historic buildings in the neighborhood: the Hotel Foresta (where the famous Don Rodrigo Bar) and "The Boat" Bauhaus architect Sergio Larraín. The pool water flows in a small central floe, almost on the edge with Merced Street.
Neptune or Poseidon was the classical god of the seas. Interestingly, it is another tribute plumber in the entire Cerro Santa Lucia, in the large fountain on access South. It was also his effigy in the Alameda de las Delicias, in a strong army across the street. According to myth, the god fell in love with a mermaid or sea nymph named Amphitrite or Salacia, who discovered one day dancing naked. Seduced her and asked her commitment, but she refused. So Neptune pleaded for a dolphin, managed to convince Amphitrite. Since then, there in heaven, in gratitude of God, the constellation of Dolphinus . That is, the Dolphin.
representations of happy couples and powerful ex Isten by thousands, mosaics, carvings, sculptures, paintings and ceramics. Has been portrayed by artists from the imagination of Greek and Roman classics to contemporary painting by teachers. The version that is reproduced next to Cerro Santa Lucia, however, correspond to the artist Mathurin Moreau shows two partially nude figures, taking a bath on the rocks of the ocean, as she shows him a few marine shells, in the middle position courtship.
According to the book "Art of the French foundry in Chile", published in 2005 by the Municipality of Santiago in conjunction with French experts of the Association for the Safeguarding and Metallurgical Heritage Area Haute-Marne, the work would have been cast in the famous Parisian company Val d'Osne , the same that provided the greatest number of parts that are inside the ride the hill. The same document indicates that our Neptune and Amphitrite originally belonged to a sculpture designed for a waterfall, and is portrayed in French foundry catalogs published by the end of the nineteenth century.
The statues of these deities came to Chile for ornamental furniture around called Campus Martius, later called Cousino Park, and Nowadays, O'Higgins Park. They remained there for the small pond installed near the entrance, in a situation somewhat exposed not only to the elements, but also the neglect of the mob, always available and tempted "Invunche" all that is beautiful but not belongs. There was damage on them, therefore.
Some sources of text and even the board itself installed on the whole, indicate that the statues he bought and donated to the city was the entrepreneur Matias Cousino. Harasses us a very reasonable question: who designed the renovated Campus Martius Park and paid his best in big companies in 1870, his son was also an entrepreneur and philanthropist Luis Cousino Squella, no Matias. Luis came to recruit the French landscape architect William Renner to produce a magnificent ride it was opened, ironically, the same year he died early this generous patrons. His father, Matthew, had died ten years earlier.
The Art of French smelter in Chile, "tells us that the donation is part of Don Luis and Don Matías not. Who would be wrong of Mr. Cousino, then, references to the statue Neptune and Amphitrite , if the information is fully available and would be easy to verify?
will leave there this observation, while, as we have found the sudden resistance from some people would consider more knowledgeable on the subject, ensuring that the board would be right to award the grant to Don Matias, causing some insecurity in some future posting solve more specific inquiry in this regard. Meanwhile, it can be established that correspond to these images, to works of the house Val d'Osne , surely are among some of the first pieces of the cast brought to Chile for public decoration.
should add that these two lovers now ocean-facing the Square Bello, appeared in 1915 portrayed the "Album of Santiago. Views of Chile Jorge S. Walton, published by the Society of Printing and lithograph Barcelona where the points are not as Neptune and Amphitrite, but as Adam and Eve . The same source indicated Matias Cousino, not Don Luis as the person who won both the park and statues for more confusion ours.
emphasize this information because never really had full confidence the identity of the sitters until after 1997, when French researchers contacted Chilean authorities confirming that corresponded to Neptune and Amphitrite , indeed, and not to other deities or characters of the world classic or the Bible.
But in the Parque O'Higgins ex Cousiño not had a good time these statues. As we said, were subject to damage and vandalism attacks, one on the shoulder of Neptune, forced to undergo restoration before being moved to its present location in April 2002, during the mayor Joaquin Lavin Infante, in agreement with the National Monuments Council. He joined the outbreak of water and lights that characterize his beautiful presence in the ever night called "port" of this neighborhood as nictófilo.
In these few years have become one of the most recognizable and distinctive images of Fine Arts District and surrounding areas.
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