Fontaine du bassin Soufflot, Public fountain at Place Edmond Rostand, Paris, France
This fountain at Place Edmond Rostand features a bronze sculpture of a triton and nereid holding a large shell from which water flows into a circular basin. The sculptural composition uses classical mythological themes that are typical of Paris's 19th-century public water features.
The fountain was built in 1862 under Napoleon III, with its bronze sculpture by Gustave Crauk added between 1864 and 1884. This sculptural form was also cast as a plaster model and displayed at the 1878 Universal Exhibition.
The name references Rue Soufflot, which connects this location to the Pantheon nearby, tying the fountain to the neighborhood's intellectual character. Locals and visitors pass through here regularly, making it a natural stopping point along routes between the Sorbonne and other district landmarks.
The fountain is located near several Metro stations on lines 4, 10, and 12, making it easy to reach while exploring the Left Bank. It serves as a natural reference point between the Sorbonne, Pantheon, and other nearby points of interest in the district.
A plaster version of the sculpture was displayed at the 1878 Universal Exhibition in Paris, where it drew considerable attention. A galvanoplastic model from 1876 still resides in the Valenciennes Museum of Fine Arts.
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