Numerous fountains adorn the capital's parks and streets, but some are particularly imposing and elaborate, like those on Place de la Concorde. In the 6th arrondissement, the Fontaine des Quatre-Parties-du-Monde hides some fascinating details in the Jardin des Grands Explorateurs. It forms a gateway to the Jardin du Luxembourg, commissioned by Baron Haussmann in 1867.
Jean-Baptiste Carpeaux, Napoleon III's official sculptor, was commissioned to create the work. In homage to the fountain's geographical location, on the axis of the famous Paris meridian opposite the Paris Observatory, he depicts four parts of the world revolving around the celestial sphere enclosing the Earth, supported by four women representing their continent.
The sphere features the 12 signs of the Zodiac! Made of bronze, it is the fruit of a collaboration between Carpeaux, Emmanuel Frémiet (who created the eight sea horses, fish and turtles in the basin), Eugène Legrain and Louis Villeminot.
But why four continents and not five? At the time, Oceania was not yet considered a continent, its thousands of islands in the Pacific Ocean still being discovered as they went along by explorers and settlers. This group of four women thus represents Africa, symbolized by a black woman, America, symbolized by a native woman, Asia and Europe, each with features or hairstyles then seen as typical (feather headdress, plait, etc.).
Note that Africa wears a broken chain on her ankle, but America has her foot on it, a reference by the artist to theabolition of slavery, far from being valid everywhere at the time. A reproduction of this work, listed as a historic monument since 1926, can also be seen at the Musée d'Orsay.
Location
The Garden of Great Explorers
Jardin des Grands Explorateurs
75006 Paris 6
Access
Metro Vavin (line 4) and Port-Royal (RER B)
