Fontaine des Dames, 18th-century fountain in Besançon, France.
Fontaine des Dames is an 18th-century fountain in Besançon with two intertwined dolphins supporting a shell topped with a bronze siren sculpture. The composition sits on the rue Charles-Nodier near the Prefecture building.
The fountain was designed by Claude Joseph Alexandre Bertrand between 1760 and 1785, taking its name from a nearby convent that once stood in the area. The siren sculpture originally came from another location before being moved here.
The siren statue here comes from a bronze sculpture made by Claude Lulier for another location. Visitors can see how this figure sits above the dolphins and shell, creating a focal point in the street.
The fountain is located on a public street and remains open to view during daylight hours without restriction. Visitors can best appreciate the bronze details of the sculptures by standing close enough to observe the craftsmanship.
The fountain's design draws inspiration from natural cave formations with their stalactite patterns. An ancient Jupiter statue that once adorned this fountain now resides in the Louvre Museum.
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