Neptune Fountain, Upper Garden

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