“What do you think of the fountain Saint-Michel?” a critic once asked. The reaction was quite divided upon its opening in 1860. Today we explore the story of this monumental fountain. This glorious fountain may not be as popular as other sights but it is a gem. It sits on the charming Place Saint-Michel.
The Fontaine Saint-Michel was constructed from 1858 to 1860. It was part of the massive reconstruction of Paris. Emperor Napoleon III directed the project. The visionary urban planner Georges-Eugene “Baron” Haussmann oversaw it. Architect Gabriel Davioud designed the fountain. He crafted many outdoor pieces for Haussmann’s projects like street furniture and lampposts.
Haussmann installed a new grand boulevard on the Left Bank. It is now called Boulevard Saint-Michel. This expanded the small Place Pont Saint-Michel into the larger Place Saint-Michel. Haussmann instructed Davioud to create a large fountain. It was meant to spruce up this new public square.
Davioud originally wanted the fountain in the center of the square. However, city administrators asked him to build it to hide a building’s end. They considered the corner of Boulevard Saint-Michel and Rue Saint-Andre des Arts an eyesore.
Davioud’s design features a facade divided into four horizontal levels. Corinthian columns frame the central niche. It caused controversy because it used different colored stones. Red and green marble, blue and yellow stone and bronze statuary were used. Using a single color was more common then.
Another point of controversy was the statue in the fountain’s central niche. Davioud wanted a feminine statue of “Peace”. But Napoleon wanted a statue to honor him. Opponents reacted strongly. A compromise was reached. The statue would depict the Archangel Michael wrestling with the devil. Construction began in June 1858. The statue sculpted by Francisque-Joseph Duret was inaugurated in August 1860.
The Fontaine Saint-Michel measures 85 feet by 50 feet. Nine sculptors worked on it. Henri Alfred Jacquemart crafted the two winged dragons. Felix Saupin designed the rock under the statue of Saint Michael. Noemie Constant crafted bas-reliefs and ornamental foliage. Smaller statues represent the cardinal virtues. They were sculpted by Jean-Auguste Barre, Claude-Jean Guillaume, Louis-Valentin Robert, Charles-Alphonse Gumery and August-Hyacinthe Debay.
The critic of Le Monde Illustre noted its polychrome architecture. He compared it to fountains in Rome. Alfred Darcel in Gazette des Beaux-Arts condemned its colors and incoherent style. Some critics disliked its placement against a wall instead of in the square’s center.
Despite the mixed reviews, the Fontaine Saint-Michel remains a significant landmark. It is a testament to the artistic vision of Gabriel Davioud. It also represents the ambition of Napoleon III’s urban renewal project. Take a moment to appreciate this stunning fountain. Consider the history and artistry behind it. The next time someone asks, “What do you think of the fountain Saint-Michel?” you’ll have quite a story to tell.