Photos in Aqua

The Pyramid Fountain, Versailles, France. Executed by the sculptor François...

Wed, 06 Jul 2011 08:58:22 GMT

The Pyramid Fountain, Versailles, France.
Executed by the sculptor François Girardon from a drawing by Charles Le Brun, the Pyramid in the centre of the fountain took three years to build. It consists of four superimposed lead bowls supported by lead tritons, dolphins and crayfish.

Photo by Dan-Tuyet Tham

The Grove of the Three Fountains, Versailles, France. Designed by Le Nôtre in...

Wed, 06 Jul 2011 08:55:22 GMT

The Grove of the Three Fountains, Versailles, France.
Designed by Le Nôtre in 1677, this grove is the only one mentioned on an old plan as “from the king’s thoughts”. It consists of three terraces each with a different fountain. Restored in 2005, it has recovered its magnificent composition and its jets of water desired by the king: in the lower fountain, the jets form a fleur-de-lys in the centre, vertical spouts and a vault of water, while above it is a column of water formed by 140 jets; moreover, it is this imposing column which supplies the lower fountains. Well hidden by the trellises, this grove had been laid out so that the king, aged 39, then suffering from gout, could reach it seated in a chair with castors and get up the grassy access ramps.

Photo by Dan-Tuyet Tham

The Grove of the Three Fountains, Versailles, France. Designed by Le Nôtre in...

Wed, 06 Jul 2011 08:52:55 GMT

Photo by Dan-Tuyet Tham

The Grove of the Three Fountains, Versailles, France. Designed by Le Nôtre in...

Wed, 06 Jul 2011 08:54:10 GMT

Photo by Dan-Tuyet Tham

Flora Fountain, Versailles, France. Located at the crossroads of several...

Tue, 05 Jul 2011 21:34:20 GMT

Flora Fountain, Versailles, France.
Located at the crossroads of several Groves, including the Queen’s Grove, the fountain of Flora, Roman goddess of flowers, gardens and spring, symbolises the first season of the year. Sculpted by Tuby, she is represented with a crown of flowers in the centre of the fountain.

Photo by Dan-Tuyet Tham

The Dragon Fountain, Versailles, France. The Water Path begins with the...

Tue, 05 Jul 2011 21:39:14 GMT

The Dragon Fountain, Versailles, France.
The Water Path begins with the half-moon of the Dragon Fountain which depicts one of the episodes of the legend of Apollo: the Python snake killed by an arrow shot by the young Apollo. The reptile is surrounded by dolphins and Cupids armed with bows and arrows riding on swans. The principal water jet rises twenty-seven metres into the air. On either side of this fountain restored in 1889, paths lead to the two Groves, France Triumphant and the Three Fountains in the west.

Photo by Dan-Tuyet Tham

Latona fountain at Versailles, France. Inspired by Ovid’s Metamorphoses, the...

Mon, 04 Jul 2011 08:15:04 GMT

Latona fountain at Versailles, France.
Inspired by Ovid’s Metamorphoses, the Latona fountain illustrates the legend of Apollo’s mother and Diana protecting her children against the insults of the peasants of Lycia, and calling on Jupiter to avenge them. He heard their plea and transformed them into frogs and lizards.
The central marble group sculpted by the Marsy brothers represents Latona and her children. The group was originally placed on a rock in 1670. It was surrounded by six frogs emerging partly from the water, and twenty-four others around the fountain on the lawn. The goddess then looked towards the Château. This arrangement was modified by Jules Hardouin-Mansart between 1687 and 1689. The rock was replaced on a concentric marble base and the Latona group henceforth gazes towards the Grand Canal. The Latona fountain is prolonged by a parterre holding the two lizard pools.

Photo by Dan-Tuyet Tham