Artist(s):

direxit Tardieu, Ambroise (1788-1841)

sc. Normand, Charles (1765-1840)

after Alavoine, Jean-Antoine (1778-1834)

Composed Title English:

The Éléphant Fountain.

Inscribed Title:

Fontaine de l'Eléphant.

Inscription:

VICTOIRES ET CONQUÊTES DES FRANÇAIS. // Ambroise Tardieu Direxit. // C. Normand Sculpsit. // Par MM. Alavoine et Bridan.

Description:

The fountain at the Place de la Bastille. Napoleon in 1810 described the fountain to be erected thus: " un éléphant de bronze, fondu avec les canons pris sur les Espagnols insurgés. Cet éléphant sera chargé d'une tour à la manière des Anciens, et l'eau jaillira de sa trompe". The elephant was to symbolise the might of the Empire. However it was never cast in bronze but in plaster, and it slowly began deteriorating, until it was taken down in 1846. Victor Hugo made it famous by housing Gavroche there.

Original Work:

Fontaine de l'Eléphant

by

Alavoine, Jean-Antoine (1778-1834)

c.1813

. height: 24m; Place de la Bastille, Paris; now destroyed.

Subject Heading(s):

Elephant Fountain, Paris

Related Works:

ALAVOINE, Jean-Antoine (1778-1834); 'Fontaine de l'Eléphant.'

LocNo:

DC151 V532 1822 folio

Added Location:

pl. 59