Mezheumny Fountain, Upper Garden

The "Mezheumny" Fountain, decorated with bronze figures of a sea dragon and four dolphins, from whose mouths jets of water soar, is located on the central axis of the Upper Garden, near the main gates.

The name "Mezheumny" or "Indefinite" is related to the fact that the sculptural decoration of the fountain often changed. In the basin, created in the 1730s, a multi-figure lead sculptural group "Andromeda" was originally installed. By the end of the 18th century, it was replaced by a composition featuring a sea dragon and four dolphins. In the 19th century, the fountain's decoration changed twice, and finally, during the post-war restoration, the bronze dragon and dolphins were returned to their places.

The appearance of the 30-meter round fountain basin dates back to the early 1730s. Its light dolomite contours highlighted the sculptural group located in the center. From 1734 to 1738, according to the design by Bartolomeo Rastrelli, a multi-figure lead composition "Perseus Protecting Andromeda from the Dragon" was installed here. The image of Perseus riding a horse, holding Medusa's head, symbolized Russia's victory over the Swedes in the Northern War. The sculptural group was surrounded by six small trees and dolphins.

Fountain masters Sualem, Ivanov, and caster Leclerc created a complex hydraulic system, thanks to which the pattern of the jets could change several times.

The fountain remained in this form until 1773, when architect Yakovlev revised the composition and rearranged it. Now it was "The Dragon Surrounded by Dolphins," meaning the ensemble acquired the familiar look we know today. From the mouth of the furious dragon and the four surrounding dolphins, foaming jets shot upward.

However, the history of the fountain does not end there. In the early 19th century, the central figure of the sea winged monster was replaced by a dolphin-like "Sterlyadka," last mentioned in the 1857 inventory. In 1858, it was replaced by a cast-iron vase, made according to a drawing by Andrey Stakenschneider, which had previously been in the Oak Basin. A distinctive feature of the fountain during this period was that from beneath the tuff-covered vase, thanks to a special nozzle, the water jet shot unevenly—sometimes higher, sometimes lower. Visitors to the Upper Garden liked this effect, and the fountain was popular.

During the Great Patriotic War, the "Mezheumny" was completely destroyed by the Nazis, and in the 1950s the question of its restoration was raised. Drawings from the 18th century depicting the fountain were found, and sculptor-restorer Gurzhiy created figures of the sea dragon and four bronze dolphins, which organically fit into the surrounding natural landscape.

Sources:

https://peterburg.center/maps/petergof-verhniy-sad-fontan-mezheumnyy.html

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