Address: Peterhof, Lower Park
Architect: Nicolo Michetti
Hydraulic works: Paul Sualem
Coordinates: 59 ° 53'12.6 "N 29 ° 55'08.6" E (Sheaf)
Content:
The Monplaisir Garden is divided into four porters or flower beds. In the center of each of them there are ancient water cannons decorated with gilded statues of Apollo, Psyche, Bacchus and Faun. And the main place on the front alley of the garden is occupied by the magnificent stone fountain "Sheaf".
Fountain "Bell" with a statue of Apallon
The history of fountains
The fountain complex was designed by the Italian architect Nicola Michetti, who served at the Russian court at the beginning of the 18th century. It is known that the architect used drawings and text records made by Peter I. The system for supplying water to the fountains was created by the French hydraulic engineer Paul Sual. All fountains were made in 1721-1723 and were tested among the first in Peterhof, during the life of the Russian Emperor Peter I.
In 1817, the old lead sculptures were dilapidated, so it was decided to replace them with statues made of more durable bronze. The famous monumental sculptor Ivan Petrovich Martos made wax models for the new statues, and he used casts that were kept in the museum of the Russian Academy of Arts as a model.
Fountain "Bell" with a statue of Psyche
In the northwest parterre, a statue of the young Apollo or "Apollino" was installed, copied from a Greek sculpture of the 4th century BC. The statue of Psyche was a copy of the work of the famous master from Italy of the period of classicism Antonio Canova. The expressive statue of Bacchus was inspired by the work of the renowned Renaissance sculptor Jacopo Sansovino. And the southeastern flower garden was decorated with a sculptural image of a Faun with a goat, sculpted from an antique sculpture of the 1st century BC.
When the Great Patriotic War began, the staff of the palace and park ensemble managed to hide the most valuable sculptures. All four statues of the Monplaisir "Bells" were wrapped in cloth and buried in the ground. Soon the suburbs of St. Petersburg were under Nazi occupation. German troops ruled the former royal residence until the beginning of 1944, and during this time almost all the fountains of Peterhof were destroyed.
Fountain "Bell" with a statue of Bacchus
After the liberation of Peterhof, the hidden statues were dug up and carefully restored. However, the stone pedestals, pools and the hydraulic system had to be rebuilt from scratch. The fountains have been restored for several years, and a modern master has managed to recreate the water supply in the same form as it was in the 18th century under Paul Sualem.
Bells
Four gilded bronze statues are installed in the center of each of the four flower beds near the Monplaisir Palace. If you look closely, you can see that water cannons differ not only in sculptural images, but also in bases. Creating water cannons, Nicola Michetti made two of them resemble vases with graceful acanthus leaves, and the other two - austere antique columns. Thin discs with rounded edges are fixed on top of the bases. The flowing water forms a smooth transparent curtain, similar to the bells. That is why the water cannons were named "Kloshi", which means "Bells" in French.
Fountain "Bell" with a statue of a Faun
Sheaf
The "sheaf" is installed in a circular pool with a diameter of 12 m. The base of the water cannon is made of durable Pudot stone and decorated with tuff. The pool bottom is lined with white and black marble slabs.
Water jets flow from a stone plinth in the center of the pool. The central stream rushes vertically upward and reaches a height of 4.5 m. It is surrounded by two tiers of 24 inclined streams, which create a composition similar to a sheaf of heavy ears.
Falling drops resemble ripe grains, for which the fountain got its name "Sheaf". Many peoples associate ears of corn with fertility, so the "Sheaf" water cannon symbolizes the power and prosperity of Russia. From the fountain, water flows down five marble steps and enters a channel hidden underground.
Fountain Sheaf
The fountains near the Monplaisir Palace are located in the Lower Park, which is open to tourists from 9.00 to 21.00, and on holidays - until 20.00. To get to the Lower Park, you must purchase a ticket. In summer, the water in all five fountains is turned on from 10.00 to 19.00.
