Grenoble
This fountain is crowned with a statue created in 1878 by Grenoble sculptor Urbain Basset. Symbolizing a young mountain river, it depicts a young man holding an earthenware jar on his shoulder, from which a waterfall flows.
Read moreUrbain Basset, born in Grenoble in 1842, created the statue « The Torrent » in 1878. On the earthenware jar, we can see all of the astrological figures, except that of Aquarius, represented by the fountain itself. A miniature of the work was bought by the state and handed over to the Museum of Grenoble, where it is displayed today. The fountain version of “The Torrent” was then acquired by the city of Grenoble. Finished in 1882, the fountain was initially placed in Verdun square. It was then moved to the Jardin de Ville park and placed at the heart of the park’s wooded area. Perched atop a small pile of stones, the statue let its water run out of the jar, over the rocks, and into a small pond. Both the fountain and the pond were removed in 1935 and the statue was stored away. Seized in July 1942, the statue was shipped to Germany to be melted down and support the German war effort. Miraculously spared, the statue was returned to Grenoble in 1952 where it was put into storage. It wasn’t until 1985 that the statue was returned to the Jardin de Ville park, for the 100th anniversary of the Grenoble Water Authority. Today, “The Torrent” lets its water flow over a contemporary-style stone base.
Leo
This fountain is crowned with a statue created in 1878 by Grenoble sculptor Urbain Basset. Symbolizing a young mountain river, it depicts a young man holding an earthenware jar on his shoulder, from which a waterfall flows.
Read moreUrbain Basset, born in Grenoble in 1842, created the statue « The Torrent » in 1878. On the earthenware jar, we can see all of the astrological figures, except that of Aquarius, represented by the fountain itself. A miniature of the work was bought by the state and handed over to the Museum of Grenoble, where it is displayed today. The fountain version of “The Torrent” was then acquired by the city of Grenoble. Finished in 1882, the fountain was initially placed in Verdun square. It was then moved to the Jardin de Ville park and placed at the heart of the park’s wooded area. Perched atop a small pile of stones, the statue let its water run out of the jar, over the rocks, and into a small pond. Both the fountain and the pond were removed in 1935 and the statue was stored away. Seized in July 1942, the statue was shipped to Germany to be melted down and support the German war effort. Miraculously spared, the statue was returned to Grenoble in 1952 where it was put into storage. It wasn’t until 1985 that the statue was returned to the Jardin de Ville park, for the 100th anniversary of the Grenoble Water Authority. Today, “The Torrent” lets its water flow over a contemporary-style stone base.
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