The fountain, located in the center of the square, is the work of Jean Goujon and Pierre Lescot. They designed it as an altar dedicated to the nymphs. Three Corinthian arcades are framed by pilasters, against which the veiled bodies of nymphs and naiads stand. It was originally installed against a wall at the corner of rue Saint Denis and rue aux Fers (now rue Berger). In 1788, the sculptor Pajou carved the fourth side, taking as his model Goujon's statue of Peace, which can be admired today in the Louvre Museum. In 1810, bollards were added to the four corners to allow water carriers with suspenders to fill up. Finally, in 1858, Davioud moved the fountain a few meters to the Square des Innocents, erected on the Place du Marché.
