HD photographs of Fontaine Medicis in Jardin du Luxembourg - Page 3
This time while we were within the Jardin du Luxembourg we took these high definition photos showing the Fontaine Medicis, which is an historical water fountain located within the gardens in the 6th Arrondissement of Paris.
Luxembourg photos
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The Fontaine Medicis translates in English to the Medici Fountain, and this was one of the grand projects that Queen Marie de Medici required to adorn the newly laid out gardens of the Palais du Luxembourg, and this water fountain was originally constructed back in 1630, and designed by Tommaso Francini, this was similar to the fountain grotto in Florence, Italy where Marie de Medici grew up.
However, over the centuries, the Medici Fountain has changed its appearance quite dramatically, and in this photograph you can see the statue group called Polythemus Surprising Acis and Galatea, which was sculpted by Auguste Ottin and put in place in 1866 replacing a small statue of Venus.
And this next close up photo shows the marble statue group, which was designed to depict the lovers Acis embracing Galatea whilst hiding under the protruding rock away from the jealous Polyphemus, according to mythology, and this is in the central area of the Fontaine Medicis.
Now originally the Fontaine Medicis was located against a wall, and when the building was torn down, fortunately the fountain was saved from destruction, and it was originally restored by Jean Chalgrin under the orders of Napoleon Bonaparte, however during the major changes in Paris implemented by Baron Haussmann, the historical Medici Fountain had to be moved, and this is when the long water basin was added.
It was the architect Alphonse de Gisors who was in charge of moving the fountain and adding additional embellishments, and it was Alphonse de Gisors that commissioned Auguste Ottin to produce the statue group of Polythemus Surprising Acis and Galatea, and in this image you can see the bronze statue of Polythemus.
So here you can see a side view of the Medici Fountain, which has been classed as a historical monument in Paris, and this provides a completely different perspective of Polythemus looking over the rocky outcrop to what is meant to be a cave below where the lovers are hiding together.
In this next photograph you can see the long basin, or pool, which is actually a length of 50 metres and with Plane Trees added on either side, this aspect of the Fontaine Medicis was implemented by Alphonse de Gisors to replace the small basin and water spout from when the original cave, or grotto became a fountain.
Yet this next photo shows the statue called Diane the Huntress, who was the Goddess of the Hunt in mythology, and this was also created by Auguste Ottin to adorn the right hand side niche in between the pillars of the remodelled water fountain.
Although this next image shows the left hand niche in between the columns on the Medici Fountain, and this statue represents a Faun, which was also sculpted by Auguste Ottin and put in place in the 1860s.
However, we took this photo standing close to the end of the 50 metre pool by one of the stone plant pots on the left hand side walkway facing eastwards, which is close to the entrance by the Place Edmond Rostand, and to give you even more of an idea, the impressive Palais du Luxembourg would be behind us.
But you will find that Alphonse de Gisors also commissioned other artists to help with the new decorations for the Fontaine Medicis and this shows the right hand side statue of the River God, which is at the top next to the pediment and this was sculpted by Francisque Duret in 1864.
And the statue located at the top of Medici Fountain next to the pediment depicts a Naiad, Water Nymph who was meant to look after fresh water for fountains, springs, streams, etc and this particular statue was sculpted by Claude Ramey.
So here you can see the entire length of the water basin with its ornate railings at the edge as you are looking towards the historical fountain, which has remained the same since the last updates in the 1860s, and with the free green chairs dotted around the edges, this is a lovely tranquil place to relax by the waters edge in the Jardin du Luxembourg.
Now getting back to the sculptures and details on the Fontaine Medicis, this shows the Coat of Arms of France and Medici, which was one of the original features on the cave style grotto that Queen Marie de Medici commissioned to be constructed within the Luxembourg Gardens, yet was restored to its former glory by Alphonse de Gisors.
However, in this close up high definition photograph you can see the tourist information board, which is located at the edge of the Fontaine Medicis, and as you can see, this provides a photo of how the fountain once looked back in the 17th century when this was known as the La Grotte du Jardin du Luxembourg.
Yet this very last photo again shows the entire fountain how it is today with small fish swimming in the pool, all the ornamental plant pots along the sides and bordered by Plane trees along with ornate shaped hedges and vines that have been trimmed by a team of professional gardeners for the Luxembourg Gardens, in order to make them look like garlands.
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