Rectangular north basin, Fountain in Tuileries Garden, France
The Rectangular North Basin is a rectangular pool in the Tuileries Garden, bordered by paved walkways and metal benches. Three stone statues stand around it, set within the garden's formal layout.
The basin was added in 1664 during Louis XIV's transformation of the garden following André Le Nôtre's formal French garden principles. The statues themselves were created in the early 1700s and reflect the artistic development of that era.
The statues surrounding the basin depict characters from Greek mythology and were crafted with refined stone carving techniques. These sculptures tell stories that visitors can discover while walking through the garden.
The basin is easily accessible from the main pathways through the garden and provides seating areas on the metal benches around it. The water is managed through a modern closed circulation system that operates throughout the day.
The three marble statues around the basin are attributed to the sculptor Antoine Coysevox and his workshop; they were carved in the early 1700s for the garden's mythological programme. Look for the river gods reclining on the rim, a detail many passers-by miss while heading for the central axis.
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