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The various sort of fountainsThe fountains in Brussels’s pentagon

The fountains outside Brussels’s pentagon

The folk and legendary fountainsA lot of fountains illustrate a legend rooted in the collective memory. Others remind the tradition of a bygone days. Their story, old or recent, makes them popular. Become sources of tradition, these fountains are often associated with the local folk festivals.

Manneken-Pis

Manneken-PisThe 61 cm tall bronze statue on the corner of Rue de l'Etuve and Rue des Grands Carmes was made in 1619 by the Brussels’s sculptor Hieronimus Duquesnoy. The figure has been repeatedly stolen; the current statue is a copy from 1965. The original is kept at the Maison du Roi/Broodhuis on the Grand Place.There are several legends behind this statue, but the most famous is the one about Duke Godfrey III of Leuven. In 1142, the troops of this two-year-old lord were battling against the troops of the Berthouts, the lords of Grimbergen, in Ransbeke (now Neder-Over-Heembeek). The troops put the infant lord in a basket and hung the basket in a tree to encourage them. From there, the boy urinated on the troops of the Berthouts, who eventually lost the battle.Manneken-Pis is also famous for its suits which go beyond 800.

The mythological or allegorical fountainsIn the Middle Ages, the faith associated frequently a saint to a source or to a fountain.The Renaissance advocates an artistic return based on the heathen Antiquity. Nymphs, Neptune and other divinities of the sea decorate fountains

NeptuneThe fountain of Neptune is a copy of Giambologna’s fountain design(1529-1608) which decorates the piazza del Nettuno in Bologna. King Léopold II remained admiring in front of this fountain which decorates the piazza del Nettuno in Bologna. Back in Brussels, king ordered a replica to the Sangiorgi Roman sculptor. The fountain took place on a square in 1903.

The commemorative fountainsFamous people are immortalized in the stone.In 19th century, the invention of pumps makes possible a big debit of closed circuit water. Due to the contribution of water to the monumentality, fountains become prestigious monuments.

Monument Verwee

On May 17th, 1903, prince Albert honored the memory of the painter Alfred Verwee from Schaerbeek by inaugurating a fountain situated in front of the city hall of Schaerbeek.

Two fishes, today dumb, spat their water in a semicircular pond. A pallet and its brushes evoke the vocation of the artist. Two thistles and a strong ox(beef) specify its preference for the animal paint(painting). In the center, a young revealing woman charms symbolizes the art.

The decorative fountainsIn the Middle Ages, many fountains were barely noticeable so much they were modest. Public authorities built monumental fountains in the busiest districts of the city. The art became allied of the feature. Progressively in the 19th century, their utility will disappear remaining only their aesthetic and decorative value.

The Whirling Ear

Since June 21st, 2000, the silhouette of Whirling Ear calls out questions to the memory of those who visited the Exhibition 58. This sculpture placed at the top of the Mount of the Arts testifies of Alexandre Calder's work, one of the biggest sculptors of the XXth century. In the perspective of the World Fair of 1958, he realizes a sculpture 6,30 meters high. His name is due to the shape of the work. The curved top suggests an ear which would be attuned of its time.

Paradoxically, the whirling Ear moves slowly on its axis: a revolution per minute.

The functional fountainsThe water supply of a district or a village was the main function of fountains. The fountains provided necessary water for the extinction of the fires.

Water jet of the pond Malou

Jules Malou's castle is mirrored in quiet waters of a pond. Since 2001, the water jet of 18 meters reconciles enjoyment and functionalism. It contributes to oxygenate the water in period of heat to avoid the stagnation. Fishes and walkers take advantage of it, each in the way.

The sets The town planners and the architects-landscape painters design public places in which multiply ornamental lakes. Every fountain or pond are a element of a set. In this optics, we cannot either add, or subtract one of the elements of the group without destabilizing the conception(design).

Marie-Louise’s squareSituated near Schuman, three public gardens, in successive landings, restore what was formerly Maelbeek’s river at this place. The pond of the public garden Marie-Louise is one of the 6 last ponds which remain among 48 which punctuated the originally city, and sheltered the seasonal floods. Further to the urbanistic extension of the Brussels suburb at the end of the 19th century, the architect Gédéon Bordiau will reorganize the site in a row of public gardens, real waterfall of gardens, livened up by plans of water and punctuated with sculptures of famous Jef Lambeaux, Constantin Meunier or still Victor Rousseau.

The seriesThe will to implant a significant number of new fountains forced public authorities to create fountains reproduced from the same model.

Les aveugles (The blind persons)

A very beautiful work of Jos de Decker is inspired by “the Parabola of the blind persons”, painted in 1563 by Breughel. The picture shows blind persons walking in a single row behind a man who sees a little better than them. As in the picture, three blind persons held a stick. Jos de Decker was also inspired by other paintings to realize other fountains.

The pondsPonds had their hour of glory in the Italian-style and French-style gardens.

The Cinquantenaire’s pond (fiftieth anniversary

of Belgium)

Under Leopold II, Belgium wanted to celebrate with dignity the fiftieth anniversary of its independence. In 1880, a big exhibition attracts the crowds at this place, created for the occasion. A big circular pond and its water jet become integrated into the French-style garden design.

The drinking troughs The supernatural fountains

In the past, numerous public drinking troughs served to refresh horses and people.

The man always attributes to water certain powers. In the Antiquity, we considered it as source of life. In the Christian religion, the baptismal water clears the original sin. Other paradise rivers were a result from a beneficial source, a symbol of the eternal life and also of the revival. Formerly, the popular mind attributed to certain water sources of healing ability and also supernatural virtues. The fountain, it is the domesticated water source version.

The love’s source

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