Tuesday, June 10, 2014

royal craftwork


This colorful creature sits atop a covering over a well right in front of Clos Lucé.  I have found no explanation of it, but I am pretty sure it represents the salamander (now known as a lizard) of King Francis I who used it as one of his royal symbols.  The crown levitating overhead sorta supports that theory.  Now what I can't explain, or even guess, is why it appears to be walking through a mine field !

22 comments:

  1. Yes, it's François I's salamander. The salamander was said to be able to extinguish fire with the frigidity of its body. Very colourful. I still have to go back to Clos Lucé.

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    1. Thanks for providing that explanation. I had never heard that. What a skill to have !

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  2. LOL! I love your description. I wouldn't have noticed the tiny explosions had you not pointed them out!

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    1. Well, it's all explained by the previous comment, so I can put away the mine field question. Although it would have been a more fun explanation.

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  3. ... or why he's not looking where he's going! Love the outstretched toes.

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    1. He's had enough questions and he's saying "talk to the paw".

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    1. I clearly am not afraid to get up close and personal with lizards (as evidenced by earlier posts) !

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    1. Yeah there's just not enough whimsy in public art.

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    1. Ah, you took the words right out of my mouth (as evidenced by previous response) !

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  7. Nice creature :)
    The mines should be flowers, no?

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    1. According to my friend Rosemary (in the very first comment today), it's fire. So given a choice I'd rather he stomp on flowers !

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  8. I immediately thought of the fire, related to this royal salamander..

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    1. I don't know how I've managed to miss this little historical detail. But I'm happy I know now !

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  9. I would definitely say it's a salamandre. A very green one!

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  10. Le sculpteur est Fernand Martin-Dumagny.

    clic !

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    1. Merci pour cette information. Je vois qu'il y a une exposition de son travail commence juillet à la mediatheque. C'est bien parce que je ne connais pas son autre travail.

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  11. Fire at his feet instead of flames from the nostrils.... Phew it's definitely not a dragon Stuart.. no sword required. Was interesting to read comments above..

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    1. For once frigidity of the body pays off !

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