A Historical Masterpiece in the Heart of Paris
The Saint-Sulpice Fountain, or Fontaine Saint-Sulpice, is a remarkable piece of Parisian heritage situated in the bustling Latin Quarter. Designed by the architect Louis Visconti and constructed by the entrepreneur Antoine Vivenel between 1844 and 1847, the fountain stands in front of the majestic Saint-Sulpice Church, Paris’ second-largest church, adding to the charm and historical significance of the area.
The Sacred Orators and Cardinal Points
The fountain is sometimes referred to as the “Fountain of the Sacred Orators” or humorously as the “Fountain of the Four Cardinal Points” because it features statues of four French bishops who were renowned preachers during the reign of Louis XIV but were never made cardinals. These statues, sculpted by Jean-Jacques Feuchère, François Lanno, Louis Desprez, and Jacques-Auguste Fauginet, represent Bossuet, Fénelon, Fléchier, and Massillon. The faces of the fountain are roughly aligned with the cardinal points.
Architectural Brilliance and Neo-Renaissance Style
The architectural design of the fountain is both intricate and harmonious, blending classical and neoclassical elements in a neo-Renaissance style. The fountain is monumental in size, with a base that includes three octagonal basins arranged in a pyramid. The first basin is approximately 10 meters wide. Rising from this base is a massive square structure topped with a canopy-like roof and a cruciform finial, reaching a height of about 12 meters.
Each face of the structure is adorned with episcopal crests and pilasters, framing niches that house the larger-than-life statues of the bishops. The second basin is decorated with four lions holding the coat of arms of Paris, while the third basin’s corners feature four smaller basins from which water flows. The cascading water from the upper basins creates a captivating and balanced visual effect.
The Four Bishops: Guardians of the Fountain
The four bishops represented were notable orators during the time of Louis XIV:
- Jacques-Bénigne Bossuet (1627-1704), Bishop of Meaux, statue by Jean-Jacques Feuchère, facing north.
- François de Salignac de La Mothe-Fénelon (1651-1715), Archbishop of Cambrai, statue by François Lanno, facing east.
- Esprit Fléchier (1632-1710), Bishop of Lavaur and Nîmes, statue by Louis Desprez, facing west.
- Jean-Baptiste Massillon (1663-1742), Bishop of Clermont-Ferrand, statue by Jacques-Auguste Fauginet, facing south.