Title: Ever Wonder What Mercury's Base Looks Like For the Birds?
Post by: patsy6 on 17-Jun-12, 12:41:47 PM
Remeber last year when Mercury got a cleaning? Well, the crew took a few pictures when they were up there in the basket. Turns out Mercury's base has a face on it. Here it is. Who knew? Must be part of Mercury's Greek mythology.
Title: Re: Ever Wonder What Mercury's Base Looks Like For the Birds?
Post by: Kris G. on 17-Jun-12, 12:45:24 PM
How interestingly odd. Who knew? Thanks for posting!
Title: Re: Ever Wonder What Mercury's Base Looks Like For the Birds?
Post by: Dumpsterkitty on 17-Jun-12, 01:08:46 PM
Found this from when it was restored & re-installed in the 70's...
I wonder if it's supposed to represent the wind? I will keep looking...
I wonder if it's supposed to represent the wind? I will keep looking...
Title: Re: Ever Wonder What Mercury's Base Looks Like For the Birds?
Post by: Dumpsterkitty on 17-Jun-12, 01:19:20 PM
OK-found that it's derived from a statue by Giovanni Bologna at the Bargello in Florence c. 1564-80
http://www.bluffton.edu/~sullivanm/bargello/mercury.html (http://www.bluffton.edu/~sullivanm/bargello/mercury.html)
"Note the coiled serpents on the caduceus, a tour de force of bronze casting. Like many mannerist artists, he was typically uninterested in subject matter or content. The style is all-important."
"His sculptures are meant to be seen from various viewing angles. He designs spiral compositions with beautiful silhouettes and flowing curves."
"A kind of Mannerist "joke," Mercury's flight is supported by the wind."
http://www.bluffton.edu/~sullivanm/bargello/mercury.html (http://www.bluffton.edu/~sullivanm/bargello/mercury.html)
"Note the coiled serpents on the caduceus, a tour de force of bronze casting. Like many mannerist artists, he was typically uninterested in subject matter or content. The style is all-important."
"His sculptures are meant to be seen from various viewing angles. He designs spiral compositions with beautiful silhouettes and flowing curves."
"A kind of Mannerist "joke," Mercury's flight is supported by the wind."
Title: Re: Ever Wonder What Mercury's Base Looks Like For the Birds?
Post by: Shaky on 17-Jun-12, 01:24:47 PM
It looks like the wind ate something that didn't agree with him. Perhaps Mercury should be renamed "Ralph."
Title: Re: Ever Wonder What Mercury's Base Looks Like For the Birds?
Post by: patsy6 on 17-Jun-12, 03:37:22 PM
Thanks for the info and the vintage picture, Ei. And Shaky, I like that Ralph idea. We could call him Ralph Mercury, although people might think we're referring to Freddie's brother. :bguitar:
Title: Re: Ever Wonder What Mercury's Base Looks Like For the Birds?
Post by: Kris G. on 17-Jun-12, 03:40:14 PM
Thanks for the info and the vintage picture, Ei. And Shaky, I like that Ralph idea. We could call him Ralph Mercury, although people might think we're referring to Freddie's brother. :bguitar:
:2funny:
Title: Re: Ever Wonder What Mercury's Base Looks Like For the Birds?
Post by: ezsha on 26-Jun-12, 08:22:56 AM
from The Flying Mercury (http://www.waymarking.com/waymarks/WMDKCP_The_Flying_Mercury_Rochester_NY)
Quote
Long Description:
Excerpt from pp 123-4:
"J. Guernsey Mitchell, internationally known sculptor, is represented in Rochester by his statue of Dr. Martin Brewer Anderson on the Prince Street campus of the University of Rochester, and by his Mercury, popularly known as The Flying Mercury, atop the City Hall annex, a conspicuous object on the Rochester skyline since 1881. It was derived from Giovanni da Bologna's figure in the Bargello in Florence."
But other references to the Mercury statue place it atop Kimball's Peerless Tobacco Works building until the building was demolished in 1951 to make way for the Rochester War Memorial arena. How to reconcile these two locations?
The Kimball Tobacco Company operated until 1905. The building was then repurposed to manufacture shirts and collars by Cluett Peabody and Company. In 1924, George Eastman acquired the property and leased it to the City of Rochester to be used as the City Hall Annex and a branch of the Rochester Public Library. (visit link)
So, the locations are one in the same, and though it now truly does stand in a new location, since 1973, over the Thomson West (Thomson Reuters) building, as a symbol of commerce.
Book: Rochester - Monroe County
Page Number(s) of Excerpt: 123-124
Year Originally Published: 1937
Excerpt from pp 123-4:
"J. Guernsey Mitchell, internationally known sculptor, is represented in Rochester by his statue of Dr. Martin Brewer Anderson on the Prince Street campus of the University of Rochester, and by his Mercury, popularly known as The Flying Mercury, atop the City Hall annex, a conspicuous object on the Rochester skyline since 1881. It was derived from Giovanni da Bologna's figure in the Bargello in Florence."
But other references to the Mercury statue place it atop Kimball's Peerless Tobacco Works building until the building was demolished in 1951 to make way for the Rochester War Memorial arena. How to reconcile these two locations?
The Kimball Tobacco Company operated until 1905. The building was then repurposed to manufacture shirts and collars by Cluett Peabody and Company. In 1924, George Eastman acquired the property and leased it to the City of Rochester to be used as the City Hall Annex and a branch of the Rochester Public Library. (visit link)
So, the locations are one in the same, and though it now truly does stand in a new location, since 1973, over the Thomson West (Thomson Reuters) building, as a symbol of commerce.
Book: Rochester - Monroe County
Page Number(s) of Excerpt: 123-124
Year Originally Published: 1937