Souvenir de la Fontaine Medici, Paris

John William Winkler

John William Winkler captures the early 19th century bas relief sculptural wall on the Fontaine de Leda in Paris, commissioned by Napoleon Bonaparte in 1806 along with fourteen other fountains in his decree of Saint Cloud. In his attempt to modernize Paris, Napoleon hired hydraulic engineer Francois-Jean Bralle to update the water supply and install the fountains throughout the city, stating that as of July 1st, 1807, water would flow from the fountains day and night for the use of the people and to keep the streets clean. This ended up being impossible due, at the time, to a lack of appropriate water pressure.

This fountain was designed by the sculptor Achille Valois, and features a bas relief depicting the Greek myth of Leda and the Swan, with Cupid off to the side preparing his arrow. It was once located at the corner of rue de Vaugirard and rue du Regard. During the reconstruction, it was stripped of its symbol of the Napoleonic reign - the eagle, which adorned the top of the fountain - and moved to the back side of the Fontaine Medici in the Jardin du Luxembourg, where it remains today. In Winkler’s image, time has encroached on the fountain with the reaching, unfurling leaves of the surrounding garden.