The "Whale" Fountain of the Lower Park

VWP4+8C Petrodvortsovy District, Saint Petersburg, Russia

In the western part of the Lower Park, right by the slope, between the Lion Cascade and the Grand Palace, lies the Sand Pond. It was dug in 1724 for the construction of a new granite cascade, but the work was never completed. At that time, the pond became known as the "Sand" Pond. Only in 1738 was it decided to improve the reservoir. The pond was deepened, the banks were tidied up, and in 1740 a huge, brightly painted wooden sculpture "resembling a whale-fish" with a water feature coming from its head was placed in its center. Around it, fantastic lead sea bulls emerged from the water.

Imperial Parks of Peterhof

In the western part of the Lower Park, right by the slope, between the Lion Cascade and the Grand Palace, lies the Sand Pond. It was dug in 1724 to create a new granite cascade, but the work was never completed. At that time, the pond acquired the name "Sand." Only in 1738 was it decided to improve the reservoir. The pond was deepened, the banks were tidied up, and in 1740 a huge, brightly painted wooden sculpture "resembling a whale-fish" with water spouting from its head was placed in its center. Around it, fantastic lead sea bulls emerged from the water.

The reservoir containing the fountain was designed by architect Miketti according to the idea of Peter I, who wished to replicate the Versailles fountain "Neptune" and create an artificial mountain "Parnassus" on the slope. However, the reservoir, dug and surrounded by a dam between 1724 and 1727 under the supervision of hydraulic engineer Tuvolkov, stood without decoration for sixteen years. Only in 1739–1740 was the Sand, or Sterlyazhiy Pond—as the reservoir was called—decorated according to the design of architects Blank and Davydov with large sculptures "with water spouting from the mouth and head," made following Osner’s model. In the center stood a seven-meter-tall carved wooden fairy-tale "Whale-fish," flanked by lead "sea bulls," cast in Saint Petersburg by Lukovnikov and chased by Kulomzin. The lacquer master Brumkorst painted the sculptures, giving the fountain’s decoration an even more picturesque character.

By the end of the 18th century, the sculptures had lost their shine, and in their place, master Strelnikov installed a menagerie-type fountain: a water column rose from the pond’s surface, surrounded by four gilded dolphins. In the mid-19th century, the fountain was dismantled. In 1963, during the park’s restoration after the destruction of the Great Patriotic War, the fountain was recreated based on 19th-century drawings. A metal sphere was balanced and rotated on the fountain’s jet.

Despite changes in its sculptural decoration, the fountain’s original name "Whale" has been preserved to this day.

Sources:

https://peterhofmuseum.ru/objects/peterhof/fontan_kitoviy

https://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/Фонтан_«Китовый»

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Roman Fountains

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Imperial Parks of Peterhof

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Statue of Neptune

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Imperial Parks of Peterhof

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Imperial Parks of Peterhof

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Imperial Parks of Peterhof

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Fountain joke "Dubok"

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Imperial Parks of Peterhof

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Fountain joke "Christmas Trees"

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Imperial Parks of Peterhof

The "Little Fir Trees" joke is a group of three small metal trees that spray water, located in one of the clumps near the Orangery. The original fountain was created in 1784 by craftsmen Keyzer and Strelnikov. The Little Fir Trees are situated in a clearing south of the Oak Grove and consist of three metal trees, which are very difficult to distinguish from real fir trees. When the elegantly dressed guests passed by, suddenly the water jets would douse the ladies and gentlemen.

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Fountains "Bells"

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Imperial Parks of Peterhof

In the center of each of the four parterres into which the Monplaisir Garden is divided, Peter planned to install the "Bells" fountains, adorned with gilded sculptures. These water jets were created between 1721 and 1723 according to Miketti's drawings, simultaneously with the central "Sheaf" fountain. The weathered lead statues were replaced with bronze ones in 1817. Wax models for them were made by I. Martos based on molds kept in the Museum of the Academy of Arts.

Miniature fountains "Tritons" or "Bells"

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Imperial Parks of Peterhof

The miniature "Tritons" fountains appeared on the shore of the Marlinsky Pond at the end of the 1720s. The sculptures of four identical boy-tritons holding flat bowls were cast in England in 1721 based on a drawing by the architect I. Braunstein. Originally, the "Tritons" were intended to decorate the Grand Cascade, but they were cleverly adapted for the construction of fountains, whose compositional design is simple and elegant. Four water jets spouted from the bowls above the heads of the "Tritons."

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Imperial Parks of Peterhof

In the 18th century, among wealthy Europeans, a fashion spread for building special pavilions called "Hermitage" or "place of seclusion." These were two-story buildings; on the lower floor were cooks and servants who prepared and served food, which was delivered by lifts to the upper floor, where the close circle of the estate owner's guests gathered. In Russia, the first Hermitage was created in Peterhof by order of Peter I. It was built on the shore of the Gulf of Finland in the western part of the Lower Park. The very idea of its construction arose in Peter during his travels through European countries, where he first saw similar structures. The Peterhof seaside pavilion served as the prototype for all Russian "hermitages" built thereafter.

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Imperial Parks of Peterhof

The Garden of Bacchus in Peterhof was designed by Nicolo Michetti in the 1720s as part of the ensemble of the Marly Palace in the western part of the Lower Park. Three paths connect it to the Garden of Venus, located between the Gulf of Finland and the Marlin Pond.

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A few days later, Peter wrote to Catherine: "I inform you that last Monday the local little king paid me a visit... a child quite remarkable in appearance and stature, and for his age fairly sensible, who is seven years old..."

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Imperial Parks of Peterhof

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Lion Cascade (Hermitage)

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Imperial Parks of Peterhof

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The Grand Cascade is the most magnificent fountain structure of the Peterhof ensemble.

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Imperial Parks of Peterhof

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Benois Family Museum

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Imperial Parks of Peterhof

There are many world-famous artists, but artistic dynasties are few. Among them, the Benois family rightfully holds a special place. This lineage has French origins. As often happened with many foreign families in Russia, the Benois family, combining French and German blood, became Russified and became the progenitor of numerous Russian figures in the arts.

Grand Palace (Peterhof)

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Imperial Parks of Peterhof

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The main building of the palace and park ensemble "Peterhof," located in the eponymous town on the southern shore of the Gulf of Finland in the Petrodvorets district of the federal city of Saint Petersburg. It was almost completely destroyed during World War II and restored in 1952.

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Imperial Parks of Peterhof

The Upper and Lower Grottos, serving as the architectural center of the Grand Cascade of Peterhof, were built according to the design of Peter I. They are faced with tuff, decorated with fountains, marble, and gilded sculptures. The facade of the Grand Grotto is pierced by five tall arches adorned with gilded mascarons. Above this grotto is a terrace leading to the Small Grotto. The boundary between the grottos is marked by a marble balustrade with figures of two gilded bronze Tritons. Architects Jean-Baptiste Le Blond, Ivan Braunstein, and Nicola Michetti participated in the creation of the grottos, with construction taking place from 1716 to 1720. Entrance is through the arched doors of the Upper Grotto. According to Peter the Great’s plan, the walls of the underground structure are faced with tuff and shells, decorated with mascarons and ornaments.

Paired Fountains "Bowls" (Italian)

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Imperial Parks of Peterhof

At the foot of the Grand Palace, in the center of the parterre flower beds, are the paired "Bowls" fountains, whose construction, according to the project of architect Nicolo Michetti, was completed at the end of 1722. The trial launch took place in the presence of Peter I. The oldest fountains of Peterhof, known for the power of their jets, received a second name – the "Great Fountains." Since the hydraulic work on the eastern fountain was carried out by the Frenchman Paul Soualem, and the western one by the Italians Giovanni and Giuliano Barratini, the western fountain is called the "Italian" fountain.

Paired Fountains "Bowls" (French)

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Imperial Parks of Peterhof

At the foot of the Grand Palace, in the center of the parterre flower beds, are the paired "Bowls" fountains, whose construction according to the project of architect Nicolo Michetti was completed at the end of 1722. The trial launch took place in the presence of Peter I. The oldest fountains of Peterhof, known for the power of their jets, received the second name – the "Great Fountains." Since the hydraulic work on the eastern fountain was carried out by the Frenchman Paul Soualem, and the western one by the Italians Giovanni and Giuliano Barratini, the eastern fountain is called the "French" fountain.