Have you ever seen nymphs frolicking with sea creatures? The Nymphenbrunnen in Dresden offers just that. Right here before us stand two magnificent fountains. They are a testament to the city’s rich history. Created between 1738 and 1742 by Johann Benjamin Thomae they originally graced the corners of buildings long gone. The Neustädter Gewandhaus and the Old Neustädter Rathaus were demolished in 1750 and 1755 respectively. Imagine the bustling market life they once witnessed.
The Nymphenbrunnen didn’t have an easy life. They’ve seen it all. Damage from weather and even gunfire during an uprising in 1920. Imagine the chaos. Repairs were made using cement. This unfortunately damaged the sandstone over time. A restoration in 1938 by Paul Polte involved creating copies of the figures. A complete renovation was proposed but deemed too expensive.
World War II brought further devastation. The Nymphenbrunnen suffered considerable damage during the bombings of 1945. Werner Hempel led the reconstruction in 1957. A fascinating fact is that in 1974 they were removed. They were stored near the Augustus Bridge to make way for the Neustadt market’s redesign. The fountains found their new home in 1979. They are only about 12 meters from their original location. Werner Hempel and his son Christian restored them.
Each fountain shows a reclining nymph surrounded by water-spouting sea creatures and a boy. The water flows into heavy sandstone basins. Notice the small spouts at the front. They were designed as dog bowls. While similar in design there are subtle differences. One nymph rests on a dolphin the other on a paddle. One holds a seashell the other seems to be stroking a fish. There’s even a boy being pinched by a crab.
The Nymphenbrunnen have also faced modern challenges. The 2002 Elbe flood caused damage requiring a 100000 Euro renovation in 2003. Vandalism in 2015 saw the water dyed pink. Sadly the figures show signs of weathering again today. These fountains are more than just pretty faces. They tell a story of resilience of a city rebuilding itself time and again.