DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.1312#0042
24 THE GEEAT EXHIBITION
Fountain by Mr. Thomas.—This' was a very elegant structure. Pour emblematical
figures served to throw up the water, while, in the centre, stood the exquisitely-carved
figures representing Acis and Galatea. We all recollect the story as it is told by Ovid
(Metamorphosis, xiii., verse 789), how the sea-nymph, was beloved by the Cyclops,
Polyphemus, whom she treated with coldness and disdain, while she beatowed her warm-
heart affection on Acis, a shepherd of. Sicily; how the happiness of the two lovers was
destroyed by the envious jealousy of the one-eyed monster, who, in order to rid himself
of his rival, destroyed him, as he sat with Galatea at the foot of a rock by the sea-side,
by'hurling on his devoted head a huge mass of stone torn from the surface of the
mountain; and how Galatea, inconsolable for the loss of her lover, and finding that she
could not restore him to life, changed him into a fountain; while she herself was
metamorphosed by the gods into a stream, the office of which was to supply its fountain
lover. Virgil also tells us the same story in the JFneid. Few subjects in the whole range
of classic lore have been more attractive to the poet, the painter, or the musician,
than this of Acis and Galatea. Witness the charming songs of Gay, the rich and varied
harmonies of Handel, and the magnificent landscape by Nicolo Poussin, certainly the most
grand and romantic one that ever issued from a poet's imagination.
We next turn to .A Fountain for a Market-place, by Mr. John Seeley, of the New Road,
which for nobility of form, grace of outline, and entire adaptability of purpose, was
entitled to the highest. commendation. It stood in the western nave, a situation by no
means suitable to display it to advantage, as there was not space sufficient for the
magnificent jets d'eaux it was capable of sending forth. It was designed by Mr.
Papworth, of Great Marlborough-street, and was constructed of artificial stone. Of M.
Kallide's Fountain; Boy and Sivan—executed in marble for the King of Prussia, and cast
in zinc by Messrs. Geiss, of Berlin, we cannot speak with much commendation. Let us
pass on, then, to a small Fountain in bronze, by Jabez James, and pause awhile to admire the
richness of its ornaments, its dolphins, and sea-monsters, and its presiding figure of " the
stern god of the sea.'" This little fountain was well adapted for the decoration of a sum-
mer-house or a cottage verandah.
An Earthen-ware Fountain, by Bidgway, was also worthy of notice, as well as a fountain
by Freen Boe and Haman, which stood in the north transept. But it is time to conclude
our chapter, and to take leave of these agreeable objects—these fountains—
- That warble, as they flow,
Melodious murmurs."
CHAPTER XV.
HOROLOGY.
BA.KLY MODES OP MEASURING TIME—THE SUN-DIAL, ANTIQUITY OF----THE CLEPSYDEA—THE HOUR-
GLASS—WHEEL-CLOCKS—CHIMING-CLOCKS FIRST KNOWN IN ITALY—MENTIONED BY DANTE----
STEASBUBG AND LYONS CATHEDRAL CLOCKS—HAIIPTON-COUET CLOCK----DR. HENDEESOS'S CLOCK
—ELIZABETHAN CLOCK—CHIMING SKELETON-CLOCK—TIME-PIECE, BY LOTEJOY—CLOCK BY
V1TTOZ—ASTRONOMICAL CLOCK—ELECTEIC CLOCK—CLOCK BY FRANCIS, ETC., ETC.
We have already made some remarks upon the subject of Horology, and given a brief
explanation of the principal technical terms relative to the different pieces of mecha-
Fountain by Mr. Thomas.—This' was a very elegant structure. Pour emblematical
figures served to throw up the water, while, in the centre, stood the exquisitely-carved
figures representing Acis and Galatea. We all recollect the story as it is told by Ovid
(Metamorphosis, xiii., verse 789), how the sea-nymph, was beloved by the Cyclops,
Polyphemus, whom she treated with coldness and disdain, while she beatowed her warm-
heart affection on Acis, a shepherd of. Sicily; how the happiness of the two lovers was
destroyed by the envious jealousy of the one-eyed monster, who, in order to rid himself
of his rival, destroyed him, as he sat with Galatea at the foot of a rock by the sea-side,
by'hurling on his devoted head a huge mass of stone torn from the surface of the
mountain; and how Galatea, inconsolable for the loss of her lover, and finding that she
could not restore him to life, changed him into a fountain; while she herself was
metamorphosed by the gods into a stream, the office of which was to supply its fountain
lover. Virgil also tells us the same story in the JFneid. Few subjects in the whole range
of classic lore have been more attractive to the poet, the painter, or the musician,
than this of Acis and Galatea. Witness the charming songs of Gay, the rich and varied
harmonies of Handel, and the magnificent landscape by Nicolo Poussin, certainly the most
grand and romantic one that ever issued from a poet's imagination.
We next turn to .A Fountain for a Market-place, by Mr. John Seeley, of the New Road,
which for nobility of form, grace of outline, and entire adaptability of purpose, was
entitled to the highest. commendation. It stood in the western nave, a situation by no
means suitable to display it to advantage, as there was not space sufficient for the
magnificent jets d'eaux it was capable of sending forth. It was designed by Mr.
Papworth, of Great Marlborough-street, and was constructed of artificial stone. Of M.
Kallide's Fountain; Boy and Sivan—executed in marble for the King of Prussia, and cast
in zinc by Messrs. Geiss, of Berlin, we cannot speak with much commendation. Let us
pass on, then, to a small Fountain in bronze, by Jabez James, and pause awhile to admire the
richness of its ornaments, its dolphins, and sea-monsters, and its presiding figure of " the
stern god of the sea.'" This little fountain was well adapted for the decoration of a sum-
mer-house or a cottage verandah.
An Earthen-ware Fountain, by Bidgway, was also worthy of notice, as well as a fountain
by Freen Boe and Haman, which stood in the north transept. But it is time to conclude
our chapter, and to take leave of these agreeable objects—these fountains—
- That warble, as they flow,
Melodious murmurs."
CHAPTER XV.
HOROLOGY.
BA.KLY MODES OP MEASURING TIME—THE SUN-DIAL, ANTIQUITY OF----THE CLEPSYDEA—THE HOUR-
GLASS—WHEEL-CLOCKS—CHIMING-CLOCKS FIRST KNOWN IN ITALY—MENTIONED BY DANTE----
STEASBUBG AND LYONS CATHEDRAL CLOCKS—HAIIPTON-COUET CLOCK----DR. HENDEESOS'S CLOCK
—ELIZABETHAN CLOCK—CHIMING SKELETON-CLOCK—TIME-PIECE, BY LOTEJOY—CLOCK BY
V1TTOZ—ASTRONOMICAL CLOCK—ELECTEIC CLOCK—CLOCK BY FRANCIS, ETC., ETC.
We have already made some remarks upon the subject of Horology, and given a brief
explanation of the principal technical terms relative to the different pieces of mecha-