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.

26 comments:

Lowell said...

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.

stromsjo said...

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

brattcat said...

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

Leif Hagen said...

Great details indeed! Such grand architecture!

Tinsie said...

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

tapirgal said...

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.

Cherie said...

wow, the caryatids are awesome!!

Gunn said...

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

Andreea said...

Very interesting looking, appropriate and suggestive. Nice

joo said...

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

Halcyon said...

I love the details. Thanks for sharing!

Ilse said...

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

B SQUARED said...

God is in the details.

Unseen Rajasthan said...

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

Unknown said...

The details are amazing. True artists worked here.

Nathalie H.D. said...

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!

Frank said...

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!!

cieldequimper said...

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

Cezar and Léia said...

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

amatamari© said...

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

Wolynski said...

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

Hilda said...

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.

Ellie said...

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

Mary Stebbins Taitt said...

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

margaret said...

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.

Anonymous said...

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