Two reliefs with torturous men (Twee reliëfs met torsende mannen)

About this artwork.

The reliefs show two identical athletic men in bare upper body, carrying a heavy burden on their shoulders.
 
Various other relief panels at Huize Tavenier refer, among other things, to the cardboard industry, which provided the capital for the villa. For example, the west facade shows reliefs on which, in addition to flower and bird motifs, a rising sun and a woman with straws in her hand can be seen. In the north facade there are also flower and bird motifs.  At the very top is a statue of a man's head with a winged helmet. This is a reference to Mercury, the Roman god of trade and profit.
 
In 1949, this building was converted into the maternity clinic of the Diakonessenhuis, today's Martini Hospital. One relief in the north facade was replaced by the name "Diakonessenhuis Maternity Clinic", also made of sandstone. 
 
Huize Tavenier was built in 1905 on behalf of Mrs Hooites-Meursing, the widow of a strawboard manufacturer, and is one of the best examples of Art Nouveau architecture in Groningen. 
 
The tile pictures with abstract plant and flower motifs were made by N.V. Royal Delft pottery factory “De Porcelijne Fles” in Delft.

Facts & Figures.

• Design
  Arie van der Lee

• District
  Centrum

• Year of creation
  1905

• Art type
  Relief, Art in / on a building

• Material
  Bluestone, Sandstone (Bremer)

• Dimensions
  h 0,70 x b 0,70 x d 0,70 m