La Fuente Monumental Las Nereidas (Fountain of Mermaids) was created in 1903 by Argentine sculptor Dolores Mora de Hernández (also known as Lola Mora) in white Carrara marble, representing nereids attending the birth of Venus. map
Lola was a pioneer in many fields, including that of being a female sculptor, holding patents related to mining, breaking with gender stereotypes, promoting equal opportunities and women’s rights.
The fountain caused an uproar because of the nudes, and especially that a woman had created them, but despite the controversy Lola and the quality of her art overcame the prejudice and won over the hearts of the Argentine people. Her birthday, November 17th, is now the National Day of Sculpture and Visual Arts, and her mermaid fountain was given recognition and status as a Property of National Historical Interest in 1997.
References:
Wikipedia – English
Wikipedia – Spanish
On the origins of mermaids
