Fontaine du marché Saint-Martin

About

The Saint-Martin market fountain is an ancient fountain in Paris. It was in the middle of the old Saint-Martin market. C. Harmand describes the fountain in his Manual of Foreigners in Paris (1824):

"The springing fountain, raised in the middle of this market, completes the whole in a magnificent way. Three children in bronze, 5 feet in proportion, represent the geniuses of hunting, fishing and agriculture; They are grouped around a bundle of reeds and other marshy plants, which supports a copper basin. A jet of water rises from the centre of this basin, falls back into it and takes the form of a beautiful circular tablecloth which, by covering the figures of the geniuses, spreads into the vast basin at the center of which they are placed. The sculpture of this group was shaped with great taste by Mr. Gois fils, a distinguished statuary. Since this fountain is fed by the Ourcq Canal, whose waters are not yet drinking, two other small fountains have been established for the Conservatoire des arts et métiers, which receive the waters of Belleville. »