Paris Gallery: La Fontaine des Arts - XI Arrondissement

By Norman Barth

Paris Kiosque - February 2003 - Volume 10, Number 2
Copyright (c) 2002 Norman Barth - Used with permission.

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6th Arrondissement, on rue Bonaparte / L'Allée du Séminaire, stands the Fontaine des Arts. The allée was created in 1936 on the site occupied in 1738 by a christian girls school dedicated to the instruction of the poor and indigent, as well as pensioners who paid tuition. During the Revolution, the school fell into disuse. Eventually it became a seminary associated with nearby Saint Sulpice.

The fountain itself is one of 15 that were to be placed around Paris in celebration of the completion of the Canal de l'Ourcq in northeast Paris. This classic styled fountain by Destournelles was to be placed in the Place du Châtelet. Its four sides have a bas relief dedicated to peace, agriculture, commerce, and "science and the arts" respectively. In 1807 it was decided to place the fountain in front of the Saint Sulpice, rather than Place du Châtelet. The question remained however where exactly to place it in front of the large and dominating structure of Saint Sulpice. Ultimately placed far away from the church, it was then moved in 1824 to the marché Saint-Germain where it was until 1935. It was then placed in its current emplacement.

A second perspective of the fountain; façades agriculture and peace. Thus, commerce and agriculture share two opposite sides of the column, and peace and "science and the arts" the other two opposite sides.

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Norman Barth is the editor of the Paris Kiosque, and webmaster/creator of The Paris Pages. Paris Gallery appears occasionally in the Paris Kiosque and is dedicated to short pieces with documentary value about the City. Norman can be contacted at nbarth@paris.org.

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