La restauration de la fontaine des Innocents à Paris

Within the general framework of its programme for the upkeep and promotion of its public fountains, the City of Paris recently undertook a restoration campaign on the Fontaine des Innocents, a masterpiece dating from the French Renaissance. This campaign had two objectives: firstly – and after about...

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Main Authors: Elsa Ricaud, Marion Del Sant, Mathieu Rousset-Perrier
Format: Article
Language:fra
Published: Ministère de la Culture et de la Communication 2024-05-01
Series:In Situ
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Online Access:https://journals.openedition.org/insitu/39083
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author Elsa Ricaud
Marion Del Sant
Mathieu Rousset-Perrier
author_facet Elsa Ricaud
Marion Del Sant
Mathieu Rousset-Perrier
author_sort Elsa Ricaud
collection DOAJ
description Within the general framework of its programme for the upkeep and promotion of its public fountains, the City of Paris recently undertook a restoration campaign on the Fontaine des Innocents, a masterpiece dating from the French Renaissance. This campaign had two objectives: firstly – and after about 130 years of debate –, to remove the original sculpted bas-reliefs, now seriously damaged by weathering, to restore these sculptures and to replace them with reproductions; and, secondly, to make water flow again from the fountain, in keeping with its original function. Using the evidence of iconography, the article begins by taking a look at the usages associated with its water, following the fountain’s various moves and alterations. To begin with, it was located at a street corner and served primarily for the distribution of drinking water and for public and individual hygiene, uses which attracted a whole series of related trades. Subsequently, with the improvement in the city’s water supply, the fountain was moved to the centre of a public square where its stands today as a heritage monument. The article then goes on to look at the fountain’s sculptures, its celebrated bas-reliefs which all relate to the theme of water. New knowledge about these sculptures is examined, provoking questions about the fountain’s overall authenticity. To conclude, the article will address the technical and doctrinal issues raised by the restoration operation. The methods required for the reproduction of the bas-reliefs are examined, taking into account the new technologies involved and the question of how the monument will be lit at night. The issues touching on the fountain’s present-day public hygiene status and the impact of this situation on the monument itself are also examined. The requirements for the monument’s future conservation are envisaged, and the consequences of these requirements in terms of the quantities of water the fountain will be able deliver.
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spelling doaj-art-9cf6f490c5ba44b4acd9b0f8377e72162025-08-20T02:20:25ZfraMinistère de la Culture et de la CommunicationIn Situ1630-73052024-05-015110.4000/insitu.39083La restauration de la fontaine des Innocents à ParisElsa RicaudMarion Del SantMathieu Rousset-PerrierWithin the general framework of its programme for the upkeep and promotion of its public fountains, the City of Paris recently undertook a restoration campaign on the Fontaine des Innocents, a masterpiece dating from the French Renaissance. This campaign had two objectives: firstly – and after about 130 years of debate –, to remove the original sculpted bas-reliefs, now seriously damaged by weathering, to restore these sculptures and to replace them with reproductions; and, secondly, to make water flow again from the fountain, in keeping with its original function. Using the evidence of iconography, the article begins by taking a look at the usages associated with its water, following the fountain’s various moves and alterations. To begin with, it was located at a street corner and served primarily for the distribution of drinking water and for public and individual hygiene, uses which attracted a whole series of related trades. Subsequently, with the improvement in the city’s water supply, the fountain was moved to the centre of a public square where its stands today as a heritage monument. The article then goes on to look at the fountain’s sculptures, its celebrated bas-reliefs which all relate to the theme of water. New knowledge about these sculptures is examined, provoking questions about the fountain’s overall authenticity. To conclude, the article will address the technical and doctrinal issues raised by the restoration operation. The methods required for the reproduction of the bas-reliefs are examined, taking into account the new technologies involved and the question of how the monument will be lit at night. The issues touching on the fountain’s present-day public hygiene status and the impact of this situation on the monument itself are also examined. The requirements for the monument’s future conservation are envisaged, and the consequences of these requirements in terms of the quantities of water the fountain will be able deliver.https://journals.openedition.org/insitu/39083sculptureRenaissanceheritagisationbuilt heritagefountainHaussmann
spellingShingle Elsa Ricaud
Marion Del Sant
Mathieu Rousset-Perrier
La restauration de la fontaine des Innocents à Paris
In Situ
sculpture
Renaissance
heritagisation
built heritage
fountain
Haussmann
title La restauration de la fontaine des Innocents à Paris
title_full La restauration de la fontaine des Innocents à Paris
title_fullStr La restauration de la fontaine des Innocents à Paris
title_full_unstemmed La restauration de la fontaine des Innocents à Paris
title_short La restauration de la fontaine des Innocents à Paris
title_sort la restauration de la fontaine des innocents a paris
topic sculpture
Renaissance
heritagisation
built heritage
fountain
Haussmann
url https://journals.openedition.org/insitu/39083
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