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Fountain of the Mermaid of Lleida

The Fountain of the Mermaid of Lleida, known in Catalan as Font de la Sirena, is a fountain in a park in the Spanish city of Lleida. Its sculpture dates from 1946 and shows a mermaid holding a shell in her hands, from which water pours into a large basin surrounded by flowerbeds. The fountain replaced an earlier figure of a nymph that had stood there since 1864 and had fallen into poor condition. In 2011, the city ordered a restoration of the three fountains in Camps Elisis, including the Sirena basin, which was re-excavated and its edging rebuilt.

Mermaid Fountain statue of a mermaid sitting on a stone structure with water flowing into a basin
Mermaid Fountain, showing a weathered mermaid statue with water flowing into the basin below.
© · CC BY-SA 3.0
Weathered stone mermaid statue in a rectangular pool with murky green water, holding a turquoise object in her lap.
Mermaid Fountain, shown as a weathered stone mermaid seated in a pool of green water.
July 2020 © · CC BY-SA 4.0
White Mermaid Fountain statue pouring water into a rectangular stone basin in a green park.
The Mermaid Fountain stands in a landscaped park with lawns, rose bushes, and trees in the background.
April 2017 © · CC BY-SA 4.0
Mermaid Fountain with a pale kneeling female statue touching the water in a rectangular basin.
Mermaid Fountain shown with a pale kneeling female figure at the edge of a rectangular basin in a park setting.
© · CC BY-SA 3.0
Weathered stone mermaid fountain statue with water flowing from the figure\'s hands.
Weathered stone Mermaid Fountain statue with water flowing from the figure\'s hands.
July 2011 © · CC BY-SA 4.0

Identification

TitleFountain of the Mermaid of Lleida
Alternative namesFuente de la Sirena; La fontaine de la Sirène de Lérida; Fonte da Sereia (Lérida); Sirena
TypeFountain sculpture
Original nameFont de la Sirena

Historical context

Current sculpture date1946
Current sculpture installation datelate 1982
Earlier sculptureA nymph statue dating from 1864
Earlier sculpture conditionIn poor condition; badly damaged by the 1982 flood; deteriorated
ReplacementThe mermaid sculpture replaced the earlier nymph statue in 1982
2011 restorationThe basin was re-excavated and the edging was refitted as part of a city-led restoration of the three fountains in Camps Elisis
2007 alterationDuring the 2007 renovation of the Camps Elisis, the fountain’s water was removed and stones were placed instead

Creator

AuthorUnknown

Discovery and provenance

Reason for replacementDeterioration of the original statue

Physical characteristics

Water featureWater flows from the shell into a large basin
SettingIn the middle of a flowerbed or garden of flowers, with roses mentioned in one source
PoseSeated on a rock
Object heldA conch shell
Depicted figureA seated mermaid

Location and ownership

LocationParc dels Camps Elisis (also called Parc des Champs Élysées), Lleida, Catalonia, Spain
Associated place nameParterre de la Fuente de la Sirena or Parterre de las Ranas

Significance

Park significanceThe most famous and best-known monument in the park
City significanceThe second most visited site in Lleida, after La Seu Vella Cathedral

Other

Public reactionA Facebook group demanding that the fountain work again reached 600 members
February 2010 council motionICV proposed restoring the fountain’s proper functioning and studying the economic and technical feasibility of restoring the others; the motion was rejected 11-15 with one abstention
Urban planning councillor statementMarta Camps said it would be looked at again

History and restoration

Restoration work start date8 March 2011
Test operation date25 March 2011
Official return to operation date5 April 2011
Repair workRepair work began on the Fountain of the Mermaid, the Lion fountain, and the Ranas or Nenúfares fountain