The Fountain of the Innocents: the Musée Carnavalet's historical and artistic exhibition - photos

The Fountain of the Innocents from every angle! Rediscover this emblematic monument of the capital, and its little-known creator, thanks to Musée Carnavalet's new exhibition, La Fontaine des Innocents - Histoires d'un chef-d'œuvre parisien, on view from April 24 to August 25, 2024. More specifically, this exhibition offers an unprecedented immersion in the history of one of the jewels of the French Renaissance, the Fontaine des Innocents, adorned with the works of sculptor Jean Goujon. Located in the dynamic Les Halles district, this fountain not only structures the urban space, it also tells the story of centuries of Parisian history.

As we await the official reopening of the fountain following its restoration, the Musée Carnavalet reveals all the secrets of this fountain, which has long been at the heart of Parisian life. The five nymph reliefs, masterpieces of Jean Goujon, can be admired up close. The Musée Carnavalet has designed this exhibition to bring this iconic monument back to life, adopting a bold approach blending art and technology. Visitors are invited to explore the complexities and challenges of restoring works of art, a fascinating process rarely brought to light.

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Theexhibition is not limited to these reliefs. It features over a hundred works of various types, illustrating the many evolutions and transformations of the Fontaine des Innocents over the centuries. As well as rediscovering this monument, it's also an opportunity to honor Jean Goujon, a major artist of his time, now forgotten. Goujon 's influence on his contemporaries and on subsequent generations is also highlighted, as is the place of the Fontaine des Innocents in popular culture and its emblematic role in the history of Paris.

Sculptures and bas-reliefs, photographs, engravings and paintings, artistic and historical objects: the various works in the exhibition recall the importance of this monument in the daily lives of Parisians. Like the Eiffel Tower, the Fontaine des Innocents was a well-known, appreciated and frequented landmark.

Have you already visited the exhibition? Then return! On Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, you can watch the conservator-restorers working on and refurbishing parts of the fountain. It's a meticulous and fascinating job, and a tribute to the behind-the-scenes craftsmen who bring our heritage back to life. Young visitors are sure to enjoy the panels illustrated by Miss Prickly (Mortelle Adèle).

This exhibition is a journey through time, where art and history come together to tell the story of Paris and one of its most remarkable monuments. Shall we stop by the Musée Carnavalet, folks?

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