Friday Fountain Challenge: October

The Concorde Fountain – Paris

The Fontaines de la Concorde are two monumental fountains located in the Place de la Concorde in the centre of Paris. They were designed by Jacques Ignace Hittorff, and completed in 1840 during the reign of King Louis-Philippe. The south fountain commemorates the maritime commerce and industry of France, and the north fountain commemorates navigation and commerce on the rivers of France.

Twelve different sculptors worked on the statuary of the fountains, closely supervised by Hittorff, who made sure that the entire ensemble would be harmonious and balanced. A prominent feature of the design of both fountains was a mushroom-shaped cap above the central vasque. Water was to jet from the top of the cap and then cascade downward into a circular vasque, then down into a large circular basin below. The major figures of the fountains were made of cast iron, florentined, or painted with bronze and gold paint. The smaller figures of the tritons and nereids were made of bronze. In 1862–63, the fountains were restored, and the bronze and gold paint was replaced with a bronze coating. (Wikipedia)

If you’d like to join in with the fountain challenge then please pop over to Polianthus for the rules

This month she is looking for stately or ornate fountains. I’m sure she would love to see you.

Friday Fountain Challenge: Urban

The Fountain of Warsaw, with the Palais de Chaillot in the background.

Jardins du Trocadéro (Gardens of the Trocadero) is an open space in Paris, located in the 16th arrondissement of Paris, bounded to the northwest by the wings of the Palais de Chaillot and to the southeast by the Seine and the Pont d’Iéna, with the Eiffel Tower on the opposite bank of the Seine. Wikipedia

The main feature, called the Fountain of Warsaw, is a long basin, or water mirror, with twelve fountain creating columns of water 12 metres high; twenty four smaller fountains four metres high; and ten arches of water.

if you’d like to join in with the fountain challenge then please pop over to Polianthus for the rules. I’m sure she would love to see you.

 

Friday Fountain Challenge: Urban

More useful drinking fountains, this time from the streets of Paris where all the drinking fountains are painted green to blend into the background.

This is the small model of the Wallace fountains. These are simple push button fountains that one can find in squares and public gardens and are marked with the Parisian Seal (although the one installed on the Place des Invalides doesn’t have this seal). They are very familiar to mothers who bring their children to play in the many small parks in Paris.

The more elaborate design is the larger model which was created by Charles-Auguste Lebourg who improved Wallace’s sketches, already studied and thought-provoking, to make the fountains true works of art.

For the large model, Lebourg created four caryatids representing kindness, simplicity, charity and sobriety. Each one is different from her sisters, by the way she bends her knees and by where her tunic is tucked into her blouse.

The one above can be found at the Flower Market ( Marché aux Fleurs). Situated on the Île de la Cité in the middle of the Seine the flower market is open every day of the week and is always a pleasant peaceful haven. 

Richard Wallace designed the fountains himself and intended them to be beautiful as well as useful.

if you’d like to join in with the fountain challenge then please pop over to Polianthus for the rules. I’m sure she would love to see you.

 

Marble Fountain

In the  Robert Montagne Square opposite the Grand Mosque in Paris, 5th arr. you will find this interesting little bird bath/fountain made from marble with pretty mosaics around the base and hidden amongst shrubs