Monday, October 12, 2009

Caryatids

Caryatids, Mercato Centrale, LivornoAs promised, here are some details of the inside of the newly restored Mercato Centrale. On each side of the two entrances to the main hall there are two caryatids: a woman with a bundle of ears of wheat and another with an apron probably full of eggs.Caryatids, Mercato Centrale, LivornoThe caryatids are eight, but these two figures are repeated four times. The originals were created in clay by the local sculptor Lorenzo Gori.Composition of seafood, Mercato Centrale, LivornoComposition of poultry, Mercato Centrale, LivornoOn top of the front and back arches flanked by the caryatids, we can see an elaborate composition of seafood and a simpler one of poultry.

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26 comments:

  1. LowellOctober 12, 2009 at 12:56 AM

    It is so frustrating that we can't do this kind of thing in the U.S. At least not very often!

    So beautiful, but more than that...these kinds of sculptures give a sense of place and stability and commonality to a place and a project.

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  2. stromsjoOctober 12, 2009 at 1:38 AM

    Well, if cooking wasn't already considered an art form - here's all the proof we'd need to establish that fact! Amazing.

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  3. brattcatOctober 12, 2009 at 2:05 AM

    These are excellent, VP. Thank you for taking us in and showing us some of the marvelous detail.

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  4. Leif HagenOctober 12, 2009 at 5:23 AM

    Great details indeed! Such grand architecture!

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  5. TinsieOctober 12, 2009 at 7:40 AM

    WOW! This is very interesting architecture. I love Caryatids :-)

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  6. tapirgalOctober 12, 2009 at 7:41 AM

    I really like what Jacob said about the sense of place and stability. These sculptures really humanize a place. And the colors are outstanding, with the blue and turquoise against the pale tan (or ???). And of course, I think every building should be decorated with animals - even dead ones.

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  7. CherieOctober 12, 2009 at 8:51 AM

    wow, the caryatids are awesome!!

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  8. GunnOctober 12, 2009 at 9:08 AM

    BRAVO to both the artist and the photographer!
    It looks really nice! Thanks for sharing.

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  9. AndreeaOctober 12, 2009 at 10:01 AM

    Very interesting looking, appropriate and suggestive. Nice

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  10. jooOctober 12, 2009 at 11:13 AM

    They are wonderful! I love especially the last two - so funny.
    Have a great week:)

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  11. HalcyonOctober 12, 2009 at 11:38 AM

    I love the details. Thanks for sharing!

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  12. IlseOctober 12, 2009 at 2:41 PM

    Such deatls make shopping a pleasure. Unlike the local "Stop&Shop"--utterly devoid of charm--where I buy my coffee. Love the new header!

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  13. B SQUAREDOctober 12, 2009 at 2:53 PM

    God is in the details.

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  14. Unseen RajasthanOctober 12, 2009 at 3:08 PM

    This is so a beautiful post !! I love Italy and i am sure someday i will capture these from my own Lens..Nice post..Unseen Rajasthan

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  15. AnonymousOctober 12, 2009 at 4:07 PM

    The details are amazing. True artists worked here.

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  16. Nathalie H.D.October 12, 2009 at 4:25 PM

    Thanks for all the lovely details, they are really worth showing!

    I enjoyed your description of the wonderful coffee roasting aroma of a few days ago. Lucky you to be intoxicated by such a smell every morning!

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  17. FrankOctober 12, 2009 at 5:38 PM

    Wow. The sculptures are really great and they are in such fine condition, too. It's amazing with so many outdoor sculptures showing wear from pollution, etc., these look pristine. The intricate detailing is impressive. Great shots of them VP!!

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  18. cieldequimperOctober 12, 2009 at 8:18 PM

    That's definitely the best decoration I've seen on a covered market in a long, long time. Wonderful!

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  19. Cezar and LéiaOctober 12, 2009 at 9:36 PM

    I love those markets in such historical buildings! I bet the merchandise they trade is superb (even more considering it's Italy!).
    God bless you!
    Cezar

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  20. amatamari©October 12, 2009 at 10:57 PM

    Un mercato con le cariatidi non è di tutte le città...
    Splendida serie, molto interessante!
    Thanks!

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  21. WolynskiOctober 13, 2009 at 9:18 AM

    Never heard of a caryatid before - could it be an ornamental sculpture? Beautiful stuff.

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  22. HildaOctober 13, 2009 at 5:26 PM

    I'm glad you provided the link to 'caryatids' in Wiki, otherwise I would have had to search for it myself.

    Really, the market's architecture and details are absolutely magnificent! Definitely a building that Livorno can be proud of.

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  23. EllieOctober 14, 2009 at 3:56 AM

    We eat - therefore we hunt! God and Guns :) Nice catch!

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  24. Mary Stebbins TaittOctober 14, 2009 at 6:07 PM

    Wonderful to see the details of these sculptures--I'd love to see them in person!!!

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  25. margaretOctober 15, 2009 at 11:00 AM

    I like those very much, they add such an air of grace and elegance to buying eggs and lettuce. Thank you also for telling us what a caryatid is... I had seen the word before and thought it was an insect.

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  26. AnonymousOctober 17, 2009 at 3:35 PM

    Greeting from Bulgaria!Very pretty blog. By Nadine,mother of Ellie Vellie.

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