PRACTICAL GARDEN FOUNTAINS 



tea. ' ' The nymph and the water turtle on which she 

 stands are of dark bronze, her drapery is green 

 bronze, and the shell on which the turtle is placed is 

 composed of one splendid piece of yellow Siena mar- 

 ble. This shell, especially in its reflection in the 

 water, rather resembles the prow of a gondola. The 

 whole composition is full of breezy motion, the bronze 

 sea-horses drawing the shell rear and plunge in the 

 water ; the young Triton is grasping the broken reins 

 which they have snapped in their impatience, while 

 the amorini behind the nymph urge on the horses 

 with arms uplifted and countenances expressive of 

 laughter and mischief. Galatea alone, in a pose of 

 classic grace, is quite calm and unmoved in the midst 

 of all this tumult, which is increased by the splash- 

 ing of the water spouting from the sea-horses' nos- 

 trils, from the water-turtle's mouth, and from the 

 cascade which pours over the ribbed edge of the shell. 

 "The smaller fountain at 'Ascott Wing' is com- 

 posed of two yellow Siena marble tazze, the lower 

 of which is lined with rainbow-hued, tinted mosaic, 

 and supported by four twisted bronze dolphins. In 

 this larger basin stands a sheaf of green bronze bul- 

 rushes with golden tips among golden acanthus 

 leaves. It is confined by a golden snake and supports 

 the upper tazza, on which a winged figure of Iris is 

 poised on one foot, with a gold-tipped arrow in her 



227 



