Darlington Memorial Fountain, sculpture by C. Paul Jennewein
The Darlington Memorial Fountain is a bronze fountain sculpture in Judiciary Square in Washington D.C. featuring a gilded nymph beside a fawn on a marble pedestal, with water flowing from side spouts to animate the composition.
The fountain was created in 1922 as a memorial to Joseph Darlington, a respected legal scholar who practiced law in Washington D.C. and died in 1920. It emerged during an era when monuments and public fountains commonly honored prominent citizens throughout the city.
The fountain displays a female figure styled after classical traditions, integrated into the urban landscape of Judiciary Square. Visitors can observe today how the ancient artistic language sits within this modern government district.
The fountain sits at the intersection of 5th Street, D Street, and Indiana Avenue NW and is easy to find because it sits among three large government buildings. The plaza sees steady foot traffic during business hours but feels more peaceful on weekends and early mornings.
When the fountain was first unveiled, the nude presentation of the nymph figure sparked public discussion and press debate about its appropriateness in a government square. This reaction reveals how public art was once closely scrutinized for moral content in civic spaces.
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