Part of the Fontaine des Girondins, Bordeaux, May 2017
Towering over the Place des Quinconces in Bordeaux, stands a 50 metre high column and Statue of Liberty. At the base of the pedestal are two large pools of water filled with sculptures of horses, chariots and a myriad of characters. Created in the late 1800s and early 1900s, this striking monument honours the Girondins who fell victim in the Reign of Terror during the French Revolution. The characters depict the battling of the Revolution and the French motto of liberté, égalité, fraternity.
In 1942 the Commission for non-ferrous metals purchased these 34 sculptures for 30FF per kilo and the whole monument was dismantled and removed in 1943. However, the pieces were never melted down and were rediscovered in Angers towards the end of the war. They made a triumphal return to Bordeaux in 1945 and after many, many years of waiting, they made their reappearance in the water basins in 1982. The drama and variety of the sculptures, plus the watery haze and sunny sparkle kept me there for some time, marvelling at the work and trying to interpret their meaning.
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Copyright Debbie Smyth, 11 June 2017
Posted as part of B&W Sunday
Travel with Intent 
Great photographs … I enjoy viewing them. Nicely done …
Isadora 😎
https://isadoraartandphotography.com/2017/06/14/old-corona-typewriter/
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I don’t think the focus matters too much on that first one, Debs. It’s so atmospheric! 🙂 🙂
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Thanks Jo. I was a bit torn. I liked the misty hazy atmosphere but missing focus makes me jittery. And now the weekly theme is Focus!
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I did think that, Debs, but didn’t want to rub salt in 🙂
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Wonderful captures, Debbie. You have made them alive. Really brilliant!
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Thanks Paula. There was a great haze as the horses spat water! I was pleased with the atmosphere but I didn’t get those 2 men properly in focus 😕
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Very interesting. And sad. And quite the work of pretty amazing art.
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Yes, definite sadness
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I am greatly grieved that many espousing tolerance in our country demonstrate at times the very definition of intolerance with those who do not agree. 😞
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Both lovely photos Debbie and thank goodness the sculptures weren’t melted down! That would have been a tragic loss.
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Yes, it would have been a great loss. I haven’t seen any suggestions as to why they survived.
But sadly war had its requirements. My mum worked on the manufacturing lines over here, involved in making things from all the melted down pots, pans, cutlery and more.
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“Und willst du nicht mein Bruder sein, dann …!”
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I like that!
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I can’t thank you for liking it, because it’s from a famous quote. “And if you refuse to be my brother, I’ll break your skull!” The French revolution was a good example and currently what happens in the name of a certain religion.
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Yes, I liked your allocation of it to this fraternity depiction. But I did have to google it to find out what came after dann!
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