In (Belated) Honor of Valentine's Day: Another Post on Odd Art!

(click to enlarge)

This absolutely incredible bronze and limestone work is a captivating portrait of George Phillip Vierheller, a former director of the St. Louis zoo. Sculpted by artist Richard Frazier in honor of Vierheller's retirement, this masterpiece captures the poignancy of the love between a man who loved animals and an animal who apparently loved him back.

While perhaps slightly inappropriate for very young children and elderly persons somewhat prone to apoplectic attacks, this seminal piece of work, which is also very green, proudly follows in the ancient tradition of erotic art long typified by such artists as Lorenzo Lotto, Antoine Watteau, and someone else whose name quite escapes me at this time.

One can only wonder: was this a love that dared not speak its name? Why would a man in such a position bear such a stoic expression on his face? And most importantly: is this really legal outside Alabama? The art historian can only ponder such mysteries; the answers may be lost to us forever.

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