La fontaine des Innocents, Paris, France - Renaissance Architecture on Waymarking.com

The fountain was constructed between 1547 and 1550 by architect Pierre Lescot and sculptor Jean Goujon in the new style of the French Renaissance. It is the oldest monumental fountain in Paris.

Pierre Lescot (1510-1578), the architect of the fountain, was responsible for introducing classical models and French Renaissance architecture into Paris. Francis I named him chief architect of the Palais du Louvre, and over the following years he transformed the building from a medieval castle into a Renaissance palace. He worked together with Jean Goujon on the decoration of two facades of the Cour Carrée of the Louvre.

The architecture of the fountain was inspired by the nymphaeum of ancient Rome, a style of building or monument found throughout the Roman empire, decorated with statuary of nymphs, tritons and other water deities, and usually used to protect a fountain or spring.

In 1547 Jean Goujon (1510-1572) became the court sculptor for Henry II, and the fountain was one of his first important commissions. In the same year he made illustrations for the French translation of the book of architecture by Vitruvius, one of the major classical sources of the architecture of the Italian Renaissance and the French Renaissance. Later he worked again with Pierre Lescot on the bas-reliefs for the Cour Carrée of the Louvre Palace.

Date of origin:: 1550 Architect(s): Pierre Lescot Style: High Renaissance (ca. 1500–1550) Type of building (structure): Renaissance fountain or well Address: Web site of the object (if exists): Not listed

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