Place Joachim-du-Bellay met de Fontaine des Innocents before 1840

Ernest Jaime's delicate rendering of the Place Joachim-du-Bellay, showcases the Fontaine des Innocents. Water, a universal symbol of purity and renewal, springs forth from this iconic fountain. The fountain's form, an architectural echo of classical temples, is adorned with nymphs and naiads. These figures, rooted in ancient mythology, embody the life-giving and regenerative powers of nature. We see them again and again through history. Consider Botticelli's Venus, emerging from the sea. The Renaissance rediscovered these archetypes, imbuing them with new meaning. The collective memory of antiquity is intertwined with a longing for harmony. The nymphs become symbols of an idyllic past, a golden age. In the modern era, they appear in dreams, and reflect our own yearning for an untainted world. This perpetual cycle, from ancient spring to modern fountain, reminds us that the human psyche is inextricably linked to the symbols and stories of the past. These figures speak to our deepest emotions and enduring need for connection.