Paris Insights - The Blog

Miroir d’Eau in the Square jean-Perrin
Photograph by www.DiscoverParis.net

Around the corner from the Champs-Elysées Clémenceau metro station, in the Square Jean-Perrin, stands a large oval fountain designed by sculptor François-Raoul Larche in 1910. Named Miroir d’eau, la Seine et ses affluents, it displays three allegorical groups that represent the tributaries of the Seine. Each group consists of a woman, each accompanied by two children, all evoking nine tributaries: L’Aube, Le Loing, L’Essonne, L’Yonne, L’Armançon, La Cure, L’Oise, La Marne, and Le Petit Morin.

The sculpted marble figures are shown admiring their own reflections in the water, and, at the same time, revealing their magnificent naked buttocks to real-life humans passing by.

Follow the link below for a close-up view:

http://www.pinterest.com/pin/411586853418340623/

Tom Taking Photograph of Fesses in the Former Delorme Passage
Photograph by www.DiscoverParis.net

Most of the covered passages of Paris were built in the first half of the 19th century. Essentially, they were shopping malls that led from one street to another.

Built in 1808, the Delorme passage linked rue de Rivoli at number 188 with rue Saint-Honore at number 177. It was destroyed in 1896, but several bas-relief sculptures that decorated the passage have been preserved. They can be viewed at the entrance of the apartment building at 177, rue Saint-Honoré.

All of the sculptures are of women. One bares here lovely fesses, with her tunic slipping demurely below the level of the fanny.

Follow the link below for a close-up view:

http://www.pinterest.com/pin/411586853417946246/