The fontaine des Innocents restored, Goujon’s nymphs to join "a museum"

27/2/24 - Restauration - Paris, Fontaine des Innocents - The restoration of the fontaine of the Innocents is finally coming to an end. This is good news, especially as the restoration work appears to have been carried out with great care and respect for the monument, as we were able to see for ourselves during an organised tour of the site.

1. Relief by Augustin Pajou on the Fontaine des Innocents, after restoration
Photo: Didier Rykner

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2. Dome of the fontaine des Innocents
after restoration
Photo: Didier Rykner

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We refer you to our previous article for more information. The reliefs by Augustin Pajou (ill. 1), which are on the south side, with the exception of a nymph on the west side, have been restored in situ and will remain in place. They are still in good condition. The architectural structure, which dates largely from the 18th-century and was extensively restored in the mid-19th century, has been restored again. The lead dome (ill. 2) was essentially in good condition. The stone basins from which the fountain water (ill. 3) flowed were completely dismantled, some of the stones were restored and those that could no longer be restored will be replaced. This is the final phase of the project, which is still ongoing.
After the inauguration, which will take place before the summer, the square will also be resurfaced - although this will have to wait until after the Olympic Games - and we hope that it will be more beautiful than the usual Parisian landscaping.

3. Basins in the fontaine des Innocents being restored
Photo: Didier Rykner

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We were surprised, however, during this new visit: in 2022, in fact, all of Jean Goujon’s reliefs were due to be removed and replaced by copies, this time there was no longer any question of Jean Goujon’s five nymphs, the casts of which are already in place (ill. 4). And even this decision…