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Neptune Fountain, Upper Garden

Neptune, Pravlenskaya St., 11, Saint Petersburg, Russia, 198510

The "Neptune" fountain is located in the largest central basin of the Upper Garden. On a tall granite pedestal stands a statue of Neptune with a crown on his head and a trident in his right hand. On the lower tiers of the pedestal are figures of nymphs and dolphins, tritons and corals, riders on winged sea horses, and other sea monsters.
Imperial Parks of Peterhof
photo
Jermaine

The "Neptune" fountain is located in the largest central pool of the Upper Garden. On a tall granite pedestal stands a statue of Neptune with a crown on his head and a trident in his right hand. On the lower tiers of the pedestal are figures of nymphs and dolphins, tritons and corals, riders on winged sea horses, and other sea monsters.

The pool, created during the reign of Peter I, was decorated in the 1730s with a gilded lead sculpture cast from Rastrelli's models. In the center of the pool appeared the grand multi-figure composition "Neptune's Chariot," and the three-tiered cascade on the southern side of the pool was adorned with the statue "Winter."

In 1736, the sculptural-fountain composition "Neptune's Chariot" was placed in the main pool of the Upper Park. The sculptures were made of lead and gilded. At the center of the composition was the figure of Neptune with a chariot, as well as riders on horses and dolphins. A gilded copper sphere was raised by the central jet of the fountain. On the southern side of the pool, a three-tiered cascade with the statue of Winter was built.

At the end of the 18th century, in place of the "Neptune's Chariot," which had lost its former beauty, a bronze composition with figures of the sea god and his retinue was installed, purchased by Paul I in Germany in 1797. Cast in the 1650s by sculptors Ritter, Schweiger, and Eisler, it is one of the most outstanding works of Western European art of the 17th century. The place of "Winter" on the pool cascade was taken by a bronze copy of the ancient statue of the Belvedere Apollo.

During the Great Patriotic War, the sculptures were taken to Germany. But in 1947, the stolen masterpiece was returned, though without the figures of the rider and Apollo, which were recast from the remaining plaster molds, and in 1956 the fountain was restarted.

During the Great Patriotic War, the sculptures were stolen and taken to Germany. Subsequently, at the request of the Soviet government, they were returned, installed in their original place, and the statue of Apollo was recreated from a plaster mold.

 

Sources:

https://spb-parki.ru/parks/peterhof/verkhniy-sad/fontan-neptun/

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

 

photo
Jermaine

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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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Imperial Parks of Peterhof
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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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Imperial Parks of Peterhof
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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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Imperial Parks of Peterhof
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Imperial Parks of Peterhof
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Fountain "Sun"

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Imperial Parks of Peterhof
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Fountain "Triton" or Orangery Fountain

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Imperial Parks of Peterhof
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Fountain Gags "Little Sofas"

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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
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Fountain joke "Umbrella" or "Mushroom"

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Imperial Parks of Peterhof
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Fountains "Bells"

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Imperial Parks of Peterhof
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Miniature fountains "Tritons" or "Bells"

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Imperial Parks of Peterhof
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The "Hermitage" Pavilion — the first post-war museum of Peterhof

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Imperial Parks of Peterhof
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Imperial Parks of Peterhof
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Sculpture of Peter I holding the young Louis XV in his arms

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Imperial Parks of Peterhof
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Venus Garden

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Imperial Parks of Peterhof
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Museum "Imperial Yachts"

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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
The Grand Cascade is the most magnificent fountain structure of the Peterhof ensemble and one of the outstanding structures in the world. The idea to complete the maritime ceremonial entrance to the royal residence with the Upper Palace and a cascade with grottos at its foot belonged to Peter I. The Grand Cascade consists of three waterfall staircases and two grottos, 75 fountains, and 255 bronze sculptures, mascarons, and bas-reliefs, as well as other decorative details. The construction of the Grand Cascade began in May 1716, involving architects Jean-Baptiste Le Blond and Nicola Michetti, Mikhail Zemtsov, and hydraulic engineering masters Pieter Soulema and Vasily Tuvolkov.
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Benois Family Museum

Dvortsovaya Square, 8, Saint Petersburg, Russia, 198510

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.
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Grand Palace (Peterhof)

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Imperial Parks of Peterhof
Great Architects: Bartolomeo Francesco Rastrelli
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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Upper and Lower Grottos

Bolshoy Cascade, Pravlenskaya St., Saint Petersburg, Russia, 198510

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.
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Paired Fountains "Bowls" (Italian)

Italian, Aleksandriyskoye Highway, Saint Petersburg, Russia, 198516

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.
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Paired Fountains "Bowls" (French)

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Imperial Parks of Peterhof
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