Garden Fountains


The Hercules Garden Water Fountain At Kew Gardens

One of the most beloved landmarks in England's Kew Gardens is the Hercules garden water fountain at The Palm House Pond (as it's properly known, although tourists are allowed to call it just "Palm Pond" or "Hercules Pond"). Although originally built to add beauty and humidity to the next door's tropical greenhouse (The Palm House), it seemed to the designers that something seemed to be missing from the outdoor garden water fountain. It was a statue.

Say Hello To Hercules

Most of Kew Gardens was built and designed in the 1800's, when the art of the Greeks and Romans was especially revered. It was the only thing thought to be grand enough to place in an English garden water fountain. The pond was built in 1845, the same time construction was going on at The Palm House.

The sculpture of Hercules wasn't added until 1853. He is naked in the Greek tradition and wresting with a large, angry serpent (the Greek God Achelus) on top of a large square base (called a plinth). The whole thing is over six feet high. Properly, the statue in the garden water fountain is called "Hercules Fighting Achelus", but it usually just known as "Herc".

Francois Joseph Bosio

The sculptor who won the job at placing a heroic image in one of the most visited garden water fountains in the country was Francois Joseph Bosio (1768 – 1845), also known as Baron Francois Joseph Bosio. He was French, which somehow seem puzzling for England's premier garden water fountain. But then again, the subject matter of the sculpture was Greek. England has always had a bit of an identity crisis.

Bosio was heavily influenced by Greek and Roman art and most of his surviving works are all in the style and subject matter of Greek and Roman myths. Mostly these were of large nude people and horses. Other sculptures resting in museums around the world include "Hyacinth Awaiting His Turn To Throw The Discus" in The Art Institute of Chicago and "Cupid with a Bow" in St. Petersberg.

However, Bosio is best known for the statues of angels and horses on top of the Arc de Trioumphe du Carrosel. How he exactly won the commission for the Hercules statue in The Palm House Pond's garden water fountain is not known, but in 1824 Bosio won renown for another Hercules and snake statue called "Hercules and the Lernaen Hydra". Besides his work, not much is known about Bosio.

 

 

Search This Site

Garden Fountains

 

 

 

Garden Fountains


Garden Fountain Water Pump Buying Tips

... pressure produced by the pump is just as important as the amount of energy that is used by the pump and purchasing a pump that is too strong will not only alter the appearance of your fountain, but will also use much more energy than is needed for the garden fountain to work properly. By keeping the strength ... 

Read Full Article  


The Exceptional Beauty Of Garden Waterfall Fountains

... A cascading waterfall is a very popular design with water falling from stone to stone at different levels before falling into a reservoir. Barrel fountains can be very appealing with some constructed of recycled wine barrels that can even incorporate a cascading waterfall using multiple barrels. Barrel ... 

Read Full Article  


Getting The Best Benefits From Solar Outdoor Garden Fountain Creations

... major hydroelectric projects are at present under way in the Dominican Republic. In the central part of the country is being constructed the Tavera complex at an estimated cost of sixty million pesos, while in the south another twenty-two million are being spent on the Valdesia project. Besides providing ... 

Read Full Article  


Beautify Your Outdoor Space With A Waterfall

... waterfall really isn't made of stone at all. Instead, it is built with a special lightweight resin that is waterproof, durable, and easy to work with. The texture of the material gives it an authentic stone look, like a natural spring you might see on a hiking tour of the Rockies or the Great Smokey Mountains. ... 

Read Full Article  


Using A Garden Fountain Pump Review To Find A Perfect Garden Fountain Pump

... This may be the best place to find out what features are available for different brands of garden fountain pumps and will give you the different prices associated with each brand. They will also have a great deal of information about newer products, such as a solar garden fountain pump. Although these ... 

Read Full Article