gallery

Patricia Yates 20th Century
The Hercules And Serpent Fountain, Kew Gardens with the Water Tower beyond

" P Yates"

oil on canvas
25.50 x 35.50 cm.

Unframed

Notes

Situated in the middle of the Palm House Pond in Kew Gardens, near London, the bronze statue depicts Hercules wrestling with the Greek river-god Achelous in the form of a serpent. It is actually part of the Royal Collection, having been acquired by King George IV in 1829. It has been at Kew since 1961.This bronze is a replica of the marble sculpture by Bosio for the Tuileries Gardens in Paris (now at the Louvre, museum no LL325). It was cast by the founder Charles Crozatier. It depicts Hercules fighting Achelous. Both of them were suitors to Dianeira, daughter of the river god Oeneous. In his attempt to defeat Hercules, Achelous kept changing form. Bosio has chosen his metamorphosis as a serpent for this representation. It was sold to George IV by Rundell, Bridge and Rundell for £1,260 in 1829. On the North Terrace at Windsor Castle by 1860 (see photograph by Roger Fenton RCIN 2100056). Sent to Hampton Court in 1957. Moved to Kew Gardens in 1961.

A notice attached to the structure explains: "The campanile was built by Decimus Burton and built in the 1840's. It is 32.42m (107ft) high and was originally designed as a water tower and chimney for the Palm House to which it is connected by a tunnel. However, it was not very successful and two chimneys had to be fitted within the Palm House until a new boiler house was built close to the Campanile which then resumed its original purpose."