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Venus Fountain, Bolsover Castle
Passing through the gate from the Great Court (visible behind the statue) the visitor is confronted by the Venus Fountain. Surrounded by a small crenelated wall, the naked figure of Venus, drying herself after her ablutions, stands on a plinth atop a small square column surrounded at it's base by a shallow square basin into which water spouts from the mouths of the four lion faces that adorn the column. In turn, the basin is supported by a further column, the topmost part sporting four naked boys attempting to fill up the base of the fountain in a way that small boys would!

Local carvers copied the statue from drawings, unfortunately they got it wrong because if the right leg was straightened it would be obvious that her legs were of different lengths.

Plan of castle here for ref
File information
Filename:Venus_Fountain3.jpg
Album name:Silversnapper / Landscape
Keywords:Venus Statue Bolsover Castle Little Castle
Camera:Canon EOS 5D Mark II
Lens:Canon EF24-105mm f/4L IS USM
Aperture:f8
Shutter Speed:1/125th sec
ISO:100
File Size:241 KB
Date added:May 17, 2013
Dimensions:1000 x 667 pixels
Displayed:19 times
URL:http://www.thestudio-online.co.uk/gallery/displayimage.php?pos=-15142
Favorites:Add to Favorites
Photojunkie  [May 18, 2013 at 01:50 AM]
I wonder where they copied it from as I've never seen a Venus like this.. It's very pretty although the surrounding gardens look a bit bleak ?
Silversnapper  [May 18, 2013 at 06:04 AM]
Thanks Barbara and yes, the gardens were a bit bleak when I visited. From English Heritage documentation of the statue: "...Venus herself is copied from a slender and Mannerist original by Giambologna in Rome". This appears to be the one that was '...rather crudely copied from drawings..' according to E.H. - can't argue with that! Possibly the original was rather too risqué even for that hedonisitc setting.
alanuk  [May 18, 2013 at 01:13 PM]
Ah, now it's good to see the location for your previous posting. I'm pleased, too, that you gave us a close up so we could see her detail. I don't know what is it about sculptors but they seem to have a fixation about bits of the body best left covered up I wonder what this would look like on a sunnier day?
Helen  [May 18, 2013 at 09:24 PM]
The water musn't have been working the day you were there Keith as the little boys have run dry I would think this would be a smashing fountain in all working order, but it is a shame about the gardens
George  [May 18, 2013 at 09:40 PM]
I bet when the fountain is working this will be a splendid sight, alive and vibrant with Venus perched above the gushing torrent.
Not so here unfortunately, but never the less gives us the feel of what WC had in mind sitting in his chamber watching through the window.
Another two fine shots in the series Keith, well done.
JOHN  [May 19, 2013 at 11:59 AM]
Agree another good shot from this series of photos, and a pity the fountain was not working as some creative effects must be possible when it is.