Wallace Fountains – “Beauty of Water”

There is no one who has walked the streets of Paris and not come across, at least once, those ornate fountains scattered throughout the city, in public parks and on street corners. Green fountains with the figure of four cast-iron women, dressed in togas, and covering a thin stream of water flowing over their backs. Although these fountains bear an English name, “Wallace Fountains”, there is no doubt that they are an icon and an integral part of the Parisian landscape. The fountains were installed all over Paris At the end of the 19th century, and behind them stands an interesting story.

The History of Wallace Fountains

Before the advent of fountains, clear, drinkable water was not readily available. Prussian War France, initiated by Napoleon III in 1870, cost the French a crushing defeat and humiliating terms of surrender. Food shortages were so widespread, and the massive Prussian bombardments left the city in physical and administrative ruins. Furthermore, the war led to widespread resentment and social polarization, especially among the lower classes, a unrest that culminated in the violent and anarchic events of the Paris Commune.

With the end of the war and the end of the violent street fighting, many buildings in the city were destroyed, including the aqueducts that supplied water to the neighborhood. Needless to say, the price of water soared, and Parisians were forced to pay exorbitant prices for it, which directly affected the lives of the working class and the poor.

The drinking options they faced were: choose the murky and filthy Seine water for nothing, or pay a high price for water from clean sources, or alternatively choose alcohol, the price of which was not much higher than the price of clean water. Many Parisians could not resist the temptation and chose the latter option, and the alcohol fumes rose above the city.

Within that scene, a new fashion of philanthropy emerged among the wealthy French bourgeoisie, in which many bourgeois contributed from their own pockets, and joined initiatives and organizations such as the Red Cross and the Salvation Army. Many of the bourgeois did this to glorify their own names, but there were some who did so out of genuine altruistic motives.

One of these world-builders was Sir Richard Wallace (1818-1890), an English art collector whose fortune he had inherited (incidentally, the same as the Wallace collection in London). Wallace had become very popular with the French public during the Prussian siege of the city, when he helped purchase supplies and donated significant sums of money to finance new ambulances.

Sir Richard Wallace felt that the community had a moral obligation to provide decent water for the population and to keep it away from the bitter drop. The wealthy Englishman did not hesitate to help with the reconstruction of Paris, and financed the construction and installation of fountains that would provide drinking water for the entire population, fountains that bear his name to this day.

Most of the cost of the project fell on the broad shoulders of Wallace, who was able to enlist the help of the Paris municipality. Wallace, who was interested in the project being completed without delay, turned to the famous sculptor from Nantes, Charles Auguste Lebourg, whose talents he had long known.

Wallace provided Le Bourg with several guidelines: the fountains had to be visible from a distance, but their height was strictly forbidden to detract from the harmony around them. In addition, the fountains had to be both pleasing to the eye and easy to operate, and all this at a price that would allow the installation of many fountains throughout the city. The materials used to build them (cast iron) had to withstand the elements and be easy to maintain. The location of the fountains and their color (dark green, intended to blend in with the gardens and tree-lined avenues) were determined by the city of Paris.

Where can these fountains be found?

Originally, Wallace donated 50 fountains to Paris, and today the number stands at 67, most of which are still in use, in public parks and on sidewalks. Over the years, more fountains have been added throughout France, such as inNantes (the sculptor's hometown), inBordeaux And in other places. Several fountains were purchased by famous artists, wealthy art lovers, including Maurice Chevalier and Brigitte Bardot.

Over the years, the fountains made their way to other regions and besides France, today Wallace fountains have spread all over the globe: Europe, Asia, South America, and the Middle East: in Jordan, and even here. In Paris Square in Haifa, and on Ben Yehuda pedestrian street in Jerusalem, there are two fountains, donated by the Paris municipality.

Today, Wallace fountains can be found in four different models and even other colors (in the 13th arrondissement and on Manilmontant Boulevard). The two original models designed and financed by Wallace are the large model and the built-in model, followed by the portico model and the small model.

The basic large model is the most common throughout Paris. The model was designed by Le Bourget and inspired by the Renaissance Fountain of the Innocents near theLa God In Paris. The basic fountain, which rises to a height of 2.71 m, consists of four caryatids (columns sculpted in the form of women) representing simplicity, forbearance, kindness, and clarity of mind.

The caryatids stand on an octagonal base and bear a pointed dome decorated with dolphins, from the center of which the water gushed in a thin stream, draining into a basin protected by a grate. The caryatids' backs face a central column, and each one differs from the other in the position in which it stands, the way it bends its knees, and the appearance of its tunic.

Incidentally, the origin of the Caryatids is in the Temple of Erechtheion on the Acropolis of Athens, where six columns sculpted in the form of a standing woman were used, and carried the building on their heads. The burden served as a symbol of the humiliation of the women of the city of Caria (which had joined forces with the Persians against Athens) and therefore all its men were murdered and its women were enslaved. The Caryatids were intended to symbolize the humiliation of the women of Caria, who carry on their heads the lesson of betrayal and the burden of shame (the roof of the building).

It is not clear why Wallace chose the shy caryatids, but in any case, the sculpted women shaded the fountain with their bodies and allowed drinking cups to be inserted for personal use only, and perhaps, in their gentle way, prevented horses and animals from sticking their noses in and drinking from the fountain's water.

In any case, in the appearance of the figures of the caryatids, Le Bourgeois was influenced by the sculpture of the Three Graces (Les trois graces) by Germain Fillon – a favorite Renaissance artist of Catherine de MediciThe second model initiated by Wallace was the built-in model, and as its name suggests, it was embedded in walls. In this model: a trickle of water flows from the mouth of a Naiad (nymph), and pours into a small basin supported by two columns. Of this model, unfortunately, only one piece remains, standing on the surrounding wall of the Jardin des Plantes, at the intersection of the streets of Rue Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire, and Rue Cuvier in the 5th arrondissement.

The remaining two models were: the small, simple model, with a snap button, like modern collars, known mainly to those mothers who bring their children to play in the many public parks.

and the elegant colonnade (columned row) model, which is essentially similar to the basic model but to reduce production costs, the caryatids were replaced with four columns. Of this model, too, only two examples remain, one in Place de la Barcelona in the 16th arrondissement and the other on Boulevard de la Terne in the 17th arrondissement.

The Wallace Fountains are still in use and are very popular among Parisians and tourists, both for the beautiful jug and, in this case, for what it contains: clean, free drinking water, which quenches the thirst of passersby.

In this sense, Sir Richard Wallace fulfilled his hopes, achieving two goals: reaching out to those in need, and making a significant contribution to the city's appearance. Wallace, who remained loyal to France, which had lovingly adopted him, was buried after his death in the cemetery. Pere Lachaise.

And as you wander the streets of Paris, look for the beautiful fountains and enjoy drinking from their clear waters. Just remember that the fountains are in use from March 15th to November 15th, for fear of the pipes freezing, and don't forget Sir Richard Wallace, the man who quenched the thirst of the Parisians.