Peggy Guggenheim’s irreverence and sense of humour is evident from this 1948 Marino Marini sculpture presiding over the canal side entrance to her old home: Palazzo Venier de Leoni (Now home to the Peggy Guggenheim Collection).
The bronze male nude astride a horse is hardly what you would expect to be titled ‘Angel of the City’!
Serious scrutiny……
Amusement…
Oops…the twist!
Have a fun weekend you all!
The Urge To Wander 
Short and amusing write up. Makes the Angel a visit next time in Venice.
That is quite the twist. I like how you set up the photos. 🙂
Thanks David. Have missed your stories. Shall be over to catch up tomorrow. Off to bed now, it is past 2 am! 🙂
What a surprise!
It certainly was!! 😀
I remember this statue very well, Madhu – for a 15 year old like myself it was perhaps the most interesting thing at the museum! Had to laugh at Meredith’s comment about rubbing the member for luck… perhaps for better prospects in one’s love life?
Thank God no one thought of that marketing ploy James!! Apart from the grossness of the action, one would have to contend with extra long lines of hopefuls 😀
oh wooow indeed..you keep the twist till the end…and look at all those expressions :D..
Aren’t they hilarious? 😀
Whahahahaha! Great twist Madhu! You’re so funny! Stunning shots hon! 😀 ♥ Big Hugs ♥
Glad to hear you laugh out loud Sonel!! 😀
HAHAHAHA What a twist! This image reminded me of the Barrel Man that was a popular souvenir from the mountain region in the north of the Philippines. It was a wood carving of a man standing inside a wooden barrel. When one lifts up the barrel, he would be greeted by a rather stiff ‘salute’ from the sculpture. 🙂
Happy this made you laugh Imelda. That ‘souvenir’ sounds equally funny 🙂
I don’t know what to say!
That is everyone’s first reaction 🙂
That can not be too pleasant a ride. Then again….
Bwhahahaha Emilio!
😀
omg!!what a face 🙂 reactions of people in first image and then totally unexpected twist! lol superb 🙂
I thought their serious expressions hilarious!! 😀 Thanks Amresh.
I have to confess I was surprised. In fact I think my mouth dropped open!
Interesting though. Given some definitions of pornography (UK afaik) I would have thought that could be deemed illegal. Obv not in Italy.
Mine did too, even though I knew it existed! Hope the fracture is healing well.
Some morning wood is always nice 🙂
😮 Cardinal!!!!
Ha! Not exactly what I was expecting … even after the set-up you give in your post! Fun submission 🙂
Thank you Stacy 😀
Hahaha. Loved the twist in the er ……..tail. 😕
😀 😀 😀
loved this! lol
Glad you do Ken 🙂
Hmmm, looks like what they want you about on the Viagra commercials. Maybe he’s trying to get to the doctor for help.
janet
LOL!!! Quite possibly, even if the sculptor couldn’t have heard of the stuff 😀
oh my!!!
Right!!!!! 😀
Definitely an unexpected twist! Good entry Madhu 🙂
Ha, ha, glad you think so Colline 😀
Now THAT’S what i call a tourist attraction Madhu! Excellent choice 🙂 thanks for the smile of the day.
And so unexpected! Most welcome Tina 😀
He obviously enjoys riding his horse.
😀 Doesn’t appear to be mutual Debra!
Pointing out the direction to where? lol
Good question Ian 😀
The most entertaining interpretation 😀
Thanks Paula! Perhaps a bit too bold for some of my readers 🙂
Not for me 😀
That is funny 😀 great pictures.
Glad you enjoyed this. Thank you for stopping by 🙂
Definitely caught me by surprise … well done!
Thanks Frank, Imagine its effect at the time then! 🙂
Definitely unexpected, Madhu! 😀
Shockingly so one would say! 🙂
I think I would have loved her as a neighbor. Great take and wonderful lead in.
Ha ha, me too 🙂
i am sure that statue makes for quite a conversation piece! as mentioned above, the reactions of visitors would be fun to capture, too!
More fun even than the statue Chris! It usually starts with shocked surprise, then slight embarrassment, followed by merriment! 🙂
Great take on the theme, very well captured – Guggenheim’s father, Benjamin Guggenheim, died in the sinking of the Titanic in 1912 – a creative woman with a lot of ideas – on her grave in Italy there’s a plaque remembering her dogs… 🙂
Thank you Ledrake. She rests in the grounds of this house and I have a picture of the plaque….14 dogs in all between 1949 – 1979!!
Fabulous!! Hope you also have a great weekend!!
Thank you Janaline 🙂
🙂
🙂 Can you imagine the furore a sculpture like this and titled ‘Angel of the City’ would create, if displayed in a gallery in India, let alone in a public space???
Ha Ha Ha we’d be scandalized 🙂
🙂 Everyone has the right to be scandalised Dilip. It is the vandalism I object to, that impinges on personal liberty.
Uhm … The stair bars made it look like the guy stuck that inside the …. nevermind. Was that the real twist? 😀
No!!! You are wicked Rommel 😀
Yes Rommel, you are indeed wicked! 🙂
Yup! He is rearing to go 🙂
He certainly is! I wonder what passing gondoliers thought of him in the 50’s and 60’s!!
Madhu, Madhu, Madhu….I like you even more!
Happy weekend.
😀 😀 😀
I love the horse’s expression! And despite no evidence or worn patch several people decided to “pleasure” the angel in various ways whilst I was there last week!! Great statue though!!
I am glad I didn’t get to see any of that!!! The horse looks startled….mirroring the viewers reaction perhaps? 🙂 Thank you for the visit and comment Liz.
Keep up the great posts Madhu, I’m really enjoying them!
Ha! Ha! Didn’t see that when I went to Venice!
Have a lovely week-end
Brian
I went looking for it after my visit to the museum, since I had read about it beforehand. I tried a shot from the water, but there were always people milling around whenever I passed that way! 🙂
PS: Your Gravatar still does not link to your site!
I love how that poor long suffering horse – or indeed the aroused member itself – has no worn patch, where people have rubbed it for luck – no-one seems to want to get up that close, eh? Lovely twist dear. 🙂
Doubled over with mirth Meredith 😀 Now that you mention it, everyone did keep their distance! I think the shock takes a while to wear off 😀
When did she buy it, do you know? I’m imagining Peggy’s delight as she watched her less avant gard visitors’ reactions! 🙂
Me too 🙂 I can’t seem to find an exact date, but seems like the sculpture was certainly in place by the mid fifties.
Too funny. No fig leaf that will fit. Sorry. I had to twist it up a little. 🙂
He he he, no a fig leaf wouldn’t do at all! 🙂
I love it. Not only is this evidence of a great sense of humor but also gutsiness. She doesn’t care what the neighbors think! Thanks for your great interpretation of this theme, Madhu
I agree, you have to admire her guts! Glad you enjoyed this Pat 🙂
I’d like to listen to people’s conversations there 🙂
Watching their reactions was half the fun Gilly. Lots of giggles 😀
You were quick off the mark, Madhu! 🙂 Have a smiley weekend!
You too Jo 🙂
Great take on this theme, Madhu. Thanks for the smile!
😀 Thanks Naomi!
And a fun weekend to you as well!
Thank you Ingrid 🙂