Site type FOUNTAIN
Canmore ID 111804
Site Number NT27SW 263
NGR NT 24969 73658
Council EDINBURGH, CITY OF
Parish EDINBURGH (EDINBURGH, CITY OF)
Former Region LOTHIAN
Former District CITY OF EDINBURGH
Former County MIDLOTHIAN

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Architectural Notes

NT27SW 263 24969 73658

Architect: Peddie & Kinnear
A Durenne 1869 - ironfounder, supplied bronze figures
Maitre des Forges, 30 Rue de la Verrerie, Paris.

Reference May 11, 1867, The Builder.

Notes and Activities

1997 to January 2010

PROJECT

Notes The Public Monuments and Sculpture Association (http://www.pmsa.org.uk/) set up a National Recording Project in 1997 with the aim of making a survey of public monuments and sculpture in Britain ranging from medieval monuments to the most contemporary works. Information from the Edinburgh project was added to the RCAHMS database in October 2010.
The PMSA (Public Monuments and Sculpture Association) Edinburgh Sculpture Project has been supported by Eastern Photocolour, Edinburgh College of Art, the Edinburgh World Heritage Trust, Historic Scotland, the Hope Scott Trust, The Old Edinburgh Club, the Pilgrim Trust, the RCAHMS, and the Scottish Archive Network.

Further details

11 June 2001

FIELD VISIT

Project Public Monuments and Sculpture Association: Edinburgh

Notes Large fountain with four female figures seated between semi-circular basins with consoles. One holds a lyre, another a globe (and compass?) a third holds a mallet (?) and governor mechanism (?). The fourth held a palette and artist's brush.
Surmounted by a standing female figure with cornucopia. Below are four basins with two mermaids seated by each, poring water into the basins from urns on their shoulders.
At the base is a large twelve-sided pool decorated on the outside with mythical beasts' heads. Beyond that is a large circular pool.


4 female figures represent poetry, science, industry and art.
See Inscriptions
Inscriptions : On metal plaque on stand beyond side of fountain (erected 2001):
THE ROSS FOUNTAIN made of cast-iron at the foundry / of ANTOINE DURENNE near Paris, France was shown at the / Exhibition of 1862 in London. / DANIEL ROSS, a local gun-maker interested in art and natural / science, bought and gifted it to the City of Edinburgh. It was / shipped in 122 pieces and arrived at Leith in September 1869. / Sadly, he died before the fountain was operational in 1872. / The figures were sculpted by JEAN-BAPTISTE KLAGMANN / who also made works for the Louvre and de Medici fountains in / Paris. The first tier has lion's head spouts and mermaid figures / with flowing urns, sitting on scallop-shell basins. The four upper / figures depict Science, Art, Poetry and Industry. At the top a / beautifully modelled figure holds a cornucopia-cup of plenty. / In 2001 the fountain was fully restored in a collaboration between / The City of Edinburgh Council and East of Scotland Water.
.EDINBURGH.
THE CITY OF EDINBURGH COUNCIL
[logo]
East of Scotland Water
Signatures : On each of the four sides of the fountain base:
A. DURENNE / MAITRE DE FORGES / SOMMEVOIRE HTE MARNE
Design period : 1862 - 1872
Year of unveiling : 1869 - 1872
Information from Public Monuments and Sculpture Association (PMSA Work Ref : EDIN0179)


Further details

1 October 2008

PHOTOGRAPHIC SURVEY

Notes Photographed by the Threatened Buildinsg Survey as part of the wider survey of structures and memorials in Princes Street Gardens.
RCAHMS (CAJS) 2012.

Further details