Savannah has many beautiful fountains, but none
is so striking as the one in Forsyth Park.
~ gosouthsavannah.com
is so striking as the one in Forsyth Park.
~ gosouthsavannah.com
Savannah, Georgia (June 7, 2021) Daughter Jill and I strolled the lush grounds of Forsyth Park, the oldest (mid-1800s) and largest (30 acres) park in the historic district of Savannah. This great expanse of stately trees and flowering shrubs provided a much-welcomed respite from the afternoon’s heat and humidity.
The pièce de resistance was an ornate fountain surrounded by a garden and decorative railing. This was one of the most-photographed places in Savannah.
The pièce de resistance was an ornate fountain surrounded by a garden and decorative railing. This was one of the most-photographed places in Savannah.
The cast-iron fountain, which was installed in 1858 and remodeled several times since, featured a two-tiered basin in the center of a large round pool. Atop the upper basis was the robed figure of a woman holding a staff. The edge of the lower basin was embellished with a leaf-patterned relief; water gently sprayed from beneath. Four triton figures – half man, half fish – and a couple of swans occupied the pool; each spouted a steady stream of water.
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Without a doubt, this fountain was awesome!
Citizens of Savannah, who hoped to emulate aspects of Parisian culture, believed that the fountain recreated the famous Fontaine des Mers (“Fountain of the Seas”) in Paris.
Well, yes and no...but first, “the rumor.”
Citizens of Savannah, who hoped to emulate aspects of Parisian culture, believed that the fountain recreated the famous Fontaine des Mers (“Fountain of the Seas”) in Paris.
Well, yes and no...but first, “the rumor.”
The fountain was ordered from a Sears catalogue.
No, it was not. Rather, this was a misunderstanding of the truth.
The truth was that this fountain was ordered from the Illustrated Catalogue of Ornamental Iron Work! It was called “Model No. 5,” and the catalogue price was $2,200.
To rub salt into the cultural wound, No. 5 was not a recreation of the Fontaine des Mers. Instead, it was an imitation of a design created by sculptor J.P. Victor Andre that was showcased in London at the Great Exhibition of 1851.
Andre was French, so yes, there was a French connection, but this connection was twice removed from the famous fountain in Paris.
In the famous words of American radio broadcaster Paul Harvey, And now you know – the rest of the story!
The truth was that this fountain was ordered from the Illustrated Catalogue of Ornamental Iron Work! It was called “Model No. 5,” and the catalogue price was $2,200.
To rub salt into the cultural wound, No. 5 was not a recreation of the Fontaine des Mers. Instead, it was an imitation of a design created by sculptor J.P. Victor Andre that was showcased in London at the Great Exhibition of 1851.
Andre was French, so yes, there was a French connection, but this connection was twice removed from the famous fountain in Paris.
In the famous words of American radio broadcaster Paul Harvey, And now you know – the rest of the story!
Please click HERE to read more stories about our trip to Savannah.