The Court of Neptune Fountain - Washington, DC
Posted by: Groundspeak Premium Member DougK
N 38° 53.323 W 077° 00.349
18S E 326033 N 4306339
The Court of Neptune Fountain - Washington, DC
Waymark Code: WMBF2Z
Location: District of Columbia, United States
Date Posted: 05/13/2011
Published By:Groundspeak Regular Member Math Teacher
Views: 36

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The Court of Neptune Fountain is located in front of the Library of Congress Building. There are three major bronze castings, each mounted on a large rock and several smaller castings in the surrounding waters, such as turtles, frogs, serpents and dolphins.

In the center is Neptune, king of the sea. On each side of him are two separate castings of his two sons, each blowing into a conch shell. On the two side rocks are nymphs riding wild seahorses. There is great detail in all the castings and with water spouting everywhere, it does have a great feeling of the high seas.

Nymph on the Left Neptune Nymph on the Right

The Court of Neptune Fountain can also be seen in Google Street View.

From the Smithsonian AIC Description:

The fountain consists of a semicircular granite basin set in a retaining wall flanked by a set of stairs. Within the retaining wall, there are three large niches. Neptune, king of the sea, sits on a rock in the middle niche. Neptune is flanked by his sons, the tritons, mythological gods characterized by figures with the torsos of men and the fins of fishes. The tritons blow on conch shells like trumpets. In the niches on either side of Neptune, is a nymph riding a wild sea horse. Out in the basin four turtles, two frogs, and a sea serpent spray water. On the retaining wall, just above the niches, are reliefs of dolphins and stalactites.

From the Smithsonian AIC Remarks:

Albert Weinert was responsible for the reliefs of dolphins and stalactites carved on the retaining wall. The theme of the fountain relates to the Roman legend of Neptune, who became king of the sea after he and his brothers, Jupiter and Pluto, divided the world. Triton and Rhode were Neptune's children by his wife Amphitrite. Neptune won the heart of Amphitrite when he came riding to her on a dolphin.

TITLE: The Court of Neptune Fountain

ARTIST(S): sculptors: Roland Hinton Perry & Albert Weinert; architects: John L. Smithmeyer, Paul J. Pelz & Edward Pearce Casey

DATE: 1897-1898

MEDIUM: Figures: bronze; Fountain basin and retaining wall: granite

CONTROL NUMBER: IAS 76007430

Direct Link to the Individual Listing in the Smithsonian Art Inventory: [Web Link]

PHYSICAL LOCATION:
Located in front of Library of Congress 10 1st Street, S.E., Main Building entrance Washington, DC 20540


DIFFERENCES NOTED BETWEEN THE INVENTORY LISTING AND YOUR OBSERVATIONS AND RESEARCH:
None noted


Visit Instructions:
Please give the date of your visit, your impressions of the sculpture, and at least ONE ORIGINAL PHOTOGRAPH. Add any additional information you may have, particularly any personal observations about the condition of the sculpture.
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