The Trafalgar Square mermaids are part of two large fountains in Trafalgar Square in London. The fountains commemorate Admirals Jellycoe and Beatty, with fantastic sculptures of mermaids, tritons and dolphins. Sir Edwin Lutyens designed the sculptures for the fountains in 1935, and the sculptures were created by William McMillan and Sir Charles Wheeler by 1939, but not installed until 1948 due to World War II.
The mermaid sculptures show mermaids in a fashion not really seen anywhere else. Both sensual and extremely powerful, in command (riding dolphins) and adapted spectacularly to their environment. The mermaids have strong and powerful long tails extending from each thigh. You see the same on the sculptures of the tritons (mermen) and you see the beginning of the tails developing on the mermaid children.
One gets the sense that these are mermaid families on the hunt. The parents bringing along the children to teach them how to hunt, with dolphins taking part in the activity.
They are spectacular pieces of art, set in the larger-than-life surroundings of the square itself, with Nelson’s Column and the lion at it’s base, the sculpture of King George IV, and the statue of General Charles James Napier.
You can see more information and photos of the mermaid sculptures on this page dedicated to the Trafalgar Square Mermaids.
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