Fountain of the Artichoke, Madrid
Fountain of the Artichoke is a fountain in Madrid’s Parque del Retiro. Designed by Ventura Rodríguez in 1776, it was made between 1781 and 1782 by the sculptors Alfonso Giraldo Bergaz, Antonio Primo, and José Rodríguez. The fountain features a central column supported by a triton and a nereid holding the coat of arms of Madrid. Above it sits a circular basin with children beneath a large artichoke, which gives the fountain its name. It is made of limestone, except for the upper section, which is granite from the Redueña quarries. Originally placed at one end of the Paseo del Prado, it was moved in 1880 to ease traffic, and a bronze copy now stands in the original location.
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Identification | |
| Title | Fountain of the Artichoke |
| Type | Fountain |
| Other names | La fontana del Carciofo; fuente de la Alcachofa; Fountain of the Artichoke, Madrid; Fountain of Triton and Nereid |
Historical context | |
| Purpose | To beautify and urbanize the northeastern area of Madrid under Charles III |
| Part of | the Salón del Prado ensemble |
Creator | |
| Designer | Ventura Rodríguez |
| Sculptors | Alfonso Giraldo Bergaz, Antonio Primo, and José Rodríguez |
Discovery and provenance | |
| Relocation date | 1880 |
| Reason for relocation | To facilitate traffic in the square |
| Current replacement at original site | A bronze reproduction of the fountain |
| Relocated to | the Retiro Gardens |
| Current location | Plaza del Emperador Carlos V, popularly known as Glorieta de Atocha, Madrid |
| Original location | At one end of the Paseo del Prado, in the Plaza del Emperador Carlos V, Madrid; in front of the now-lost Puerta de Atocha |
History and restoration | |
| Restoration date | 1847 |
| Relocation after restoration | the Retiro Gardens |
| Relocation plan directed by | architect José Urioste y Velada, director of Water Supply and Sewerage of the Madrid City Council |
| Mayor at time of restoration and relocation | the Marquis of Torneros |
| Date installed as replica | Since 1987 |
| Promoted by | Mayor Enrique Tierno Galván |
| Reason for replica installation | As part of a rational recovery plan for the square after removing the large elevated roadways known popularly as the Scalextric de Atocha |
Physical characteristics | |
| Top ornament | An artichoke |
| Replica base difference | The replica's base differs from the original structure |
| Replica base | A circular platform with a square quartered inner surface and four surrounding ponds |
| Water features | A double cascade crowns the fountain; two opposing amphorae in the basin produce small water jets |
| Central figure arrangement | A triton and a nereid flank the first tier of the column; four putti surround the column below the upper cup |
| Upper form | A small upper cup shaped like a vegetal hat made of lanceolate leaves |
| Column details | The first tier is profusely decorated; the second tier rests on a cup or tazza supported on a pedestal |
| Base | Circular basin, 13.5 feet in diameter |
| Structure | A central column made of two tiers rising from a circular basin |
Materials | |
| Original materials | Limestone, with granite for the upper part and artichoke |
| Replica material | Bronze |
| Stone source | Redueña quarries, Madrid |
Technique | |
| Construction date | 1781–1782 |
| Design date | 1776 |
| Executed by | Alfonso Giraldo Bergaz, Antonio Primo, and José Rodríguez |
Style | |
| Style | Clear Baroque influence, despite Ventura Rodríguez's Neoclassical career |
| Baroque features | Maritime gods, vegetal decorations, and water effects carved into the stone |
Iconography and meaning | |
| Iconography | Children beneath a large artichoke at the center of the basin |
| Coat of arms | The triton and the nereid display the coat of arms of Madrid |
| Mythological figure | The nereid is a sea nymph with a woman's body and a fish tail |
| Autumn figure | A carved mascaron representing Autumn, shown as the face of an old man with a garland crown |
| Top ornament meaning | Symbol of fertility or medicinal properties |
| Shape motif | Artichoke-shaped elements |
Location and ownership | |
| Current replica location | the small square of the Republic of Honduras, next to the southern corner of the Great Pond (Estanque Grande) |
Other | |
| Related work | The Fountain of the Shells, next to the Royal Palace of Madrid in Campo del Moro, is another fountain by Ventura Rodríguez with the same stylistic influence |