Fontaine Gavarni, Public fountain and sculpture in 9th arrondissement of Paris, France

The Gavarni Fountain stands in the centre of Place Saint-Georges. A tall column rises from a stepped base, topped by a bust of Paul Gavarni drawing on a sketchbook. Around the column's foot are four high-relief figures of Paris Carnival characters: a Débardeur, a Lorette, a Rapin and a Harlequin. Bronze mascarons on the pedestal faces were meant to spout water, but the fountain rarely runs. A metal grille surrounds it.

A first fountain was installed in 1824 at the request of the daughters of Mr. Dosne, the developer of Place Saint-Georges, to provide a watering trough for horses. In 1901 the Société des peintres-lithographes launched a public subscription to honor Paul Gavarni, who had lived in the district and died in 1866. The monument by sculptor Denys Puech and architect Henri Guillaume was inaugurated on 3 December 1904, and in 1907 it was temporarily moved while the Saint-Georges metro station was built.

The four high-relief figures at the column base depict Paris Carnival types: a Débardeur, a Lorette, a Rapin and a Harlequin. Gavarni specialised in drawing the Carnival and its characters. This is the only spot in Paris where the Carnival, a major event for centuries that disappeared in 1950, is commemorated.

The fountain sits at Place Saint-Georges and is easy to reach on foot, especially if you are already exploring the area near Galeries Lafayette. The best views come from different angles, since the bronze figures and masks are visible from various sides.

The monument is the only place in Paris where the vanished Paris Carnival is depicted in stone. Sculptor Denys Puech carved four of its stock figures in high relief at the column base: a Débardeur, a Lorette, a Rapin and an Arlequin. The carnival had lasted for centuries before it ended in 1950.