As water in a fountain flows
as one stream
but falls in many drops
divided by time and space
so are the revelations of
the one stream of truth.
...Hazrat Inayat Khan
This is called the Tyler Davidson Fountain or The Genius of Water. But it also has the nicknames of The Lady or The Cincinnati Angel, which is my personal favorite. The artistic fountain's motif is water in homage to the river city's continuing debt to the Ohio River.
The fountain is regarded as the symbol of Cincinnati and one of the area's most visited attractions. The 43 foot tall fountain is cast in bronze and sits on a green granite base. It is on the US National Register of Historic Places.
After the death of his brother in law and business partner Tyler Davidson, Cincinnati businessman Henry Probasco went to Munich, Germany in search of a suitable memorial for him. Many years before, artist August von Knelling had collaborated with Ferdinand von Miller at the Royal Bronze Foundry of Bavaria to design a fountain. Probasco requested the addition of four figures with animals that would be drinking fountains, which Miller's sons designed.
The central figure, the Genius of Water is a female of heroic size. From her pierced and out stretched fingers, water pours down from hundreds of jets and is symbolic of longed for rain. The figure is 9 feet high and weighs 2 tons. She is what I chose to focus on in my photo but the entire fountain is stunning and ornate...so much to see and photograph. The fountain is especially mesmerizing at night when the lighting changes to each color of the rainbow...simply beautiful. It was one of my favorite things to see, especially the top with the Cincinnati Angel sending down streams of water.
I truly can not believe it’s be 14 years since they renovated Fountain Square and moved the fountain. During the renovation, while they refurbished the fountain, she was on display at the Cincinnati Art Museum where you could view her and examine her up close. Quite a treat to see her like that. But she belongs outside to really feel her glory — outstretched arms with the water falling from her fingertips. Day and night she’s a beautiful symbol for the city. You done her proud with your post, CC.
I'm the one who CC came to visit in Cincinnati. I thought I'd add my post of the day if it corresponds with Cathee's. Just another way of keeping our trip together. I miss you Cathee. Come back!! https://365project.org/yogiw/2019/2019-04-10
August 30th, 2019
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