The Eiffel Tower as seen from the Alexandre III Bridge over the Seine in Paris France.
Pont Alexandre III is an arch bridge that spans the Seine connecting the Champs Élysées quarter and the Invalides and Eiffel Tower quarter commonly regarded as the most ornate the most elegant or the most extravagant in Paris The bridge with its exuberant Art Nouveau lamps cherubs nymphs and winged horses at either end was built between 1896 and 1900 It was named after Tsar Alexander III who had concluded the Franco Russian Alliance in 1892 It was Alexander s son Nicholas II who laid the foundation stone in October 1896 The style of the bridge reflects that of the Grand Palais to which it leads on the right bank Four gilt bronze statues of Fames watch over the bridge supported on massive 17 meter socles that provide stabilizing counterweight for the arch without interfering with monumental views The socles are crowned by Fames restraining Pegasus on the Right Bank Renommée des Sciences Fame of the Sciences and the Renommée des Arts Fame of the Arts both by Emmanuel Frémiet at their bases La France Contemporaine Contemporary France by Gustave Michel and France de Charlemagne France of Charlemagne by Alfred Lenoir On the Left Bank the Renommée du Commerce Fame of Commerce by Pierre Granet and the Renommée de l Industrie Fame of Industry by Clément Steiner at their bases France de la Renaissance France of the Renaissance by Jules Coutan and La France de Louis XIV France of Louis XIV by Laurent Honoré Marqueste The lions are by Jules Dalou and Georges Gardet At the centres of the arches Nymphs of the Seine with the arms of France correspond with Nymphs of the Neva with the arms of Imperial Russia on the other face both are executed in hammered copper over forms by Georges Récipon
Size: 3415px × 5123px
Photo credit: © Peter Chadwick / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
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