Charles-Auguste Lebourg

Works

Lebourg is best known for the Wallace fountains, which can be found throughout the world. More than 100 of the fountains are scattered throughout France, mostly in Paris, but also in Nantes, Bordeaux, and several other French cities.

Wallace stipulated that the designs of the fountains follow several guidelines. First, the fountains should be tall enough to be visible from afar, but not so tall as to affect the harmony of the immediate landscape. The fountains had to be both easy to use and pleasing to the eye, and affordable enough to allow the maximum number to be installed. The materials used to build the fountains needed to be weather resistant and easy to maintain.

The larger fountains stand , and consist of an octagonal pedestal topped with four unique caryatids– representing kindness, simplicity, charity and sobriety– supporting a dome decorated with dolphins. The design of this larger model was inspired by the Fontaine des Innocents in Paris, He provided one step in the monument to the 1870 defenders of Paris. Lebourg created busts of numerous individuals, among them Lady Wallace (wife of Richard Wallace), Émile de Girardin, Auguste Comte, and Eugène Livet.

Gallery

Wallace fountains

Other works