24.5.18

I missed this one...



Rather recently I made a post (see here) about doorknockers, handles, knobs…  I took pictures in some of the neighbouring streets, but then missed this one, one of the most spectacular I have seen so far, 5 Avenue Sully-Prudhomme! It’s on the front door of a “hôtel particulier” from 1913, which was built for a music editor, Massacrié-Durand, with an important catalogue of especially French composers (Massenet, Debussy, Saint-Saëns, Ravel…).

I discovered the story behind the doorknocker, thanks to my blogger friend “Paris-bise-art” who wrote about it here.  He wonders what the two personalities are supposed to represent… thinking especially about Bacchus / Dionysos. However, considering the profession of the original owner of the building, I wonder if it possibly could be Apollo, the God of Music (and Arts, Poetry…) overlooking, with a friendly smile, a Siren (generally represented with wings), known for their – dangerous - enchanting music and singing voices… ? I don’t know. Maybe someone will? But, somehow, the face looks more like Bacchus.... ??

The decorative relief which can be found above the entrance door is of course also clearly of musical inspiration…  

… whereas the other ones seem to be more linked to “nature”.


6 comments:

Maria Russell said...

Perhaps Homer would have the right answers to your questions, Peter?
Discarding the sitting figure - too flat chested - for a siren...it looks to me like Dionysus/Bacchus (headdress of grapes and its leaves) smiling on Orpheus sitting on his lyre.
Just saying...

Love your photos and all of the building's ornaments.
Thank you so much!

Mystica said...

Apart from the beauty of what you show us, so educative.

claude said...

C'est à bien regarder qu'on s'aperçoit que la Capitale recèle de trésors.

Maria Russell said...

And...of course...you were right about Apollo!

Re: Apollon sur le dôme de l'opéra Garnier, sculptée par Aimé Millet.

CNG said...

Wonderful illustrated information. I thank you about that. No doubt it will be very useful for my future projects. Would like to see some other posts on the same subject! paris

Studio at the Farm said...

Whatever mythological figures they represent, the door knocker is exquisite! Glad you added it, Peter.

Kathryn