Plate L11 - The Pont Alexandre III and Petit Palais…
Built between 1896 and 1900, to compliment the Grand Palais, and named after Tsar Alexander III, this bridge spans the Seine from the Palais to Les Invalides. A marvel of engineering, the bridge itself is a six metre high steel span construction. Built by engineers Jean Résal and Amédée d’Alby, it is the decorations of this bridge, and its seventeen metre socles counterbalancing the arch’s weight, that command attention.
The many sculptures were contributed by a number of renowned sculptors including amongst others Emmanuel Frémiet. The gilded bronze statues atop the socles are of four Fames - Science, Art, Commerce and Industry.
Behind the bridge, to the centre of the picture can be seen the roof of the apse of the Petit Palais.
Originally planned as a temporary structure, the Petit Palais now houses an impressive art collection, mostly bequeathed to the city by Auguste Dutuit. Works include paintings by Delacroix, Monet, Renoir and Toulouse-Lautrec, along with tapestries, sculptures and manuscripts.
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment