Paris, France — Of the many fountains of Paris, it is perhaps one of the most revered for its historical past as well as its artistic past, present and future. The majestic Fountain of the Innocents was commissioned in 1550 by King Philippe Auguste making it one of the city’s first three public fountains which all drew their water from the Belleville aqueduct. It has been moved twice (on one occasion to avoid demolition) and undergone myriad modifications to be finally rebuilt in the Renaissance. It is currently being restored and an exhibition paying tribute to the fountain and its glorious five reliefs of water nymphs is underway at the Carnavalet Museum, the city of Paris museum devoted to the history of the French capital.

The exhibition, entitled The Fountain of the Innocents, the History of a Parisian Masterpiece, invites the visitor into a water world to discover or rediscover the fountain and its many facets. It is a masterpiece of the French Renaissance adorned with reliefs of nymphs and creatures of the seas — including a water dragon —by the sculptor Jean Goujon who worked alongside the architect Pierre Lescot. The Fountain of the Innocents was at the heart of Paris in the Les Halles district, once home to successive food markets. The restoration of the fountain is underway and is slated to be completed in June of 2024. The exhibition offers an excellent and unique opportunity to discover up close the five reliefs of the nymphs sculpted by Jean Goujon which were removed from the monument for the restoration. But that’s not all. The exhibition presents a selection of 150 works in multiple mediums and digital devices showcasing the successive transformation of the fountain as well as exploring the figure of Jean Goujon a major artist of the French Renaissance yet one who is little known to the public. And the show demonstrates the role this Parisian monument has played in popular culture and art. And don’t miss the real workshop set up to watch the in situ restoration of old plaster proofs of Goujon’s nymphs in a dedicated space with a restorer actively in place on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.

The reliefs of mythological divinities and sea creatures are juxtaposed with marine decorations and lower parts of Goujon’s reliefs that were removed and are kept at the Louvre museum further enhancing this Parisian journey into the sea. There is even a representation of a hippogriff that dates well before the Harry Potter books. The fountain is represented in countless paintings and photographs and would be the scene of various activities ranging from its bustling market to political gatherings. It was listed as a historic monument in 1862. The Fountain of the Innocents exhibition is on until August 25th. Meanwhile the museum’s permanent collections are worth a visit to learn about Paris from prehistorical times to the present. The permanent collection is free of charge. ©Trish Valicenti for The Gourmet Gazette
Musée Carnavalet – Histoire de Paris,23 rue de Sévigné, 75003 Paris, France. http://www.carnavalet.paris.fr/en