Fontaine de l'Observatoire

Fontaine de l'Observatoire (43A)

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Situated at the south end of the Luxembourg Gardens, in the lengthened Observatory Gardens, also called the Marco Polo Garden, you will find one of the most beautiful fountains in Paris and also the most-photographed: the Observatory Fountain, also known as the fountain of the four parts of the world.

The splendid fountain made in 1874 was a collective piece of work by different artists, designed and produced by Davioud.

The bronze sculpture you can see represents four women holding up the globe and who symbolise the four continents, ignoring the fifth, Oceania, for purposes of symmetry.

The sculpture was the work of Jean Baptiste Carpeaux. It is a perfect example of the art of movement.

Carpeaux wanted to give a colour to each woman according to race, but the idea was rejected. Europe hardly touches the ground, Asia, with the ponytail almost turns her back on us, America carries a feather headdress and Africa looks up to an inscription that Carpeaux carved: Why were we born slaves? In reference to the abolition of slavery, the sculpture has a broken chain at the base.

On the globe you can see the different signs of the Zodiac.

On the base there are dolphins, tortoises and horses.

It is undoubtedly worth experiencing this spectacular fountain live, and it is also very pleasant strolling around these shady gardens where you will find a large number of sculptures.

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