Fontaine de l'Observatoire

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The Fountain des Quatre-Parties-du-Monde, or Fountain de l'Observatoire, or Fountain Carpeaux, is a Parisian monument located in Place Ernest-Denis, in the garden of the Grand Explorers Marco-Polo and Cavelier-de-la-Salle that extends the Avenue de l'Observatoire towards the Luxembourg garden. It is listed as historical monuments by order of 28 April 1926.

History: Baron Haussmann commissioned this work in 1867 by Jean-Baptiste Carpeaux, the official sculptor of Napoleon III. It is a gateway to the Luxembourg garden. The fountain is located on the axis of the meridian of Paris opposite the Observatory. The artist represented four parts of the world rotating around the celestial sphere. Oceania is not represented because it is not yet fully discovered at that time. This choice of Carpeaux is also justified for reasons of balance and harmony of the work. The bronze fountain was built between 1867 and 1874. Designed by architect Gabriel Davioud, it was created thanks to the collaboration of several artists. Jean-Baptiste Carpeaux has created the group of Four parts of the world supporting the adorned globe...