Europe2016

Sculpture around the doorway on the land-facing side.

On the columns around a window, engravings of the signs of the zodiac.

Sculptures on the Adelphi.

One of four very large allegorical figures on the river-facing side of the building. As noted in the review of the building (see earlier picture), the gestures on these figures accent the height and size of the building.

One of the smaller sculptures on the Adelphi building.

Multiple elaborate carvings, at the Adelphi.

Another of the large (two stories) allegorical sculptures on the Adelphi, and an example of a time when it was acceptable to use nudity in the art for a commerical building.

Though I'd never heard of it before in any discussions of public art, the Adelphi was quite rich in the artwork used on the exterior. Too bad contemporary public architecture has moved so far away from concern about incorporating art.

The building I was looking for when I discovered the Adelphi building -- the Shell Mex House. Art Deco in design, completed in 1931, and famous for the gigantic clock tower. The building was originally built for Shell-Mex and BP Ltd, a merger of Shell and British Petroleum operations in 1931. This night picture was taken from across the Thames with my small pocket camera. For more information on the building: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shell_Mex_House

Some of the detail on the Shell Mex House, I guess here this was designed to represent an American Eagle as a symbol for the Shell portion of the company. Overall the building does not have anything close to the amount of sculpture on the Adelphi building.

Closer detail of the huge clock tower on the Shell Mex House.

What is popularly referred to as Cleopatra's Needle, on the bank of the Thames in Westminster, London. Erected in Egypt in around 1450BC, relolcated to London in 1877, the needle was already 1000 years old when Cleopatra reigned and is thus misnamed. See: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cleopatra 's_Needle

One of the faux-Egyptian sphinxes designed by an English architect, next to Cleopatra's Needle. See: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cleopatra%27s_Needle_(London)

The Monument, designed by Christoper Wren and completed in 1677. It was built to commemorate the 1666 fire which devastated much of London. The balcony is accessible during the day but due to the time of the day, I didn't go up (311 steps). See: www.themonument.info/history/introduction.html

The Monument, designed by Christoper Wren and completed in 1677. It was built to commemorate the 1666 fire which devastated much of London. The balcony is accessible during the day but due to the time of the day, I didn't go up (311 steps). See: www.themonument.info/history/introduction.html

Next to the Blackfriars railway bridge, the remains of the London Chatham and Dover railway bridge. See: www.currybet.net/cbet_blog/2008/12/the-ghost-of-the-london-chatha.php

The London Millennium Bridge, a pedestrian bridge linking St Paul's Cathedral and the Tate Modern (among other points). There's an interesting picture of it from overhead here: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Millennium_Bridge,_London#/media/File:London_Millennium_Bridge_from_Saint_Paul%27s.jpg

The Tate Modern, from the London Millennium Bridge. I had wanted to visit the Tate since it is based on a former power plant, but was running short on time.