English: This frame records the modern incarnation of the easternmost of Gabriel Davioud's two
Fontaine du Théâtre-Français. This one is topped with
Nymph fluviale ('Nymph of the river'), an 1874 work by Mathurin Moreau (1822-1912), a French sculptor from Lyon in the academic style who later became mayor of Paris' 19th arrondissement (district). The four figures at the base are by Davioud himself. Located at the fairly central intersection
Place André Malraux (formerly
Place du Théatre-Française, it was renamed after Malraux (1901-1976), a French novelist, art theorist, convicted art thief (during his formative years in Cambodia) and eventually, under de Gaulle, Minister of Information then France's first Minister of Cultural Affairs.
Davioud created the pair of fountains to mark the beginning of the new Avenue de l'Opéra (off frame at left, Rue de Richelieu is off frame at right), which connected the city's most famous theater with the opera house. The project was begun in 1867, but was interrupted by the war and not finished until 1874. According to Davioud's plan, two fountains were built. Each has a circular stone basin; a base of gray marble with four seated children in bronze; a bronze vasque; a piédouche, or column, of white marble with medalions with the seal of city, and water spouting from the top; and, at the top of the piédouche, a river nymph at the top of the fountain nearest the theater, and a sea nymph at the top of the second fountain.
Taken on the morning of 2014-07-05.