Exceptional set of Val d’Osne cast iron statues forming fountain coming from the Chateau du Pian near Bordeaux

This fountain of exceptional quality includes a set of iron cast sculptures realized in the late 19th by the famous Val d'Osne foundry. Designed by the great sculptor Mathurin Moreau in 1854, the group of the two large back to back statues represents Acis and Galatea and is illustrated in the album nr. 2 of the Val d'Osne foundry under the numbers 272 and 273.

The story of Acis and Galatea, narrated by Ovid, is here cleverly chosen by Mathurin Moreau as the subject of a fountain because Galatea, a beautiful nymph desired by the Cyclops Polyphemus, transforms her beloved Acis into a river so that he rejoins the sea and does not totally die of the wounds inflicted on him by the Cyclops. This is why Galatea designates with her gesture the water that flows from the lion's head.
This one, as well as the two sirens, are also present in the album n° 2 of the Val d'Osne, while the vases appear in the 1888 album.
The sirens were designed by Provin Serres, a sculptor and disciple of Mathurin Moreau.

Coming from the Chateau du Pian, in Bouliac near Bordeaux (South of France), this fountain could be installed at the same time as the architecture of the house was completely transformed in 1873. The feudal residence had indeed been destroyed, and a Bordeaux wine merchant, Henri Deffès, bought it in 1866 and then entrusted the works of renovation to an architect of the public monuments, Victor Pierre Mialhe. The architect designed the elegant Chateau du Pian in the style of the second half of the 19th century, a period of great influence for the Val d'Osne foundry. Henri Deffès lived in Bordeaux when the city triumphed over the arrival of spring water with the fountain of Mathurin Moreau in 1857 ; We can therefore attribute to him the commission of this work intended to illustrate the extreme refinement of the domain.
The property belonged at the latest in 1897 to a rich farmer, Ferdinand Petit, owner of several vineyards and worldly friend of the President of the American Chamber of Commerce, who came to the Chateau in 1918.

The couple of Acis and Galatea was presented at the World's Fair of 1855, for a fountain designed in collaboration with Michel Liénard where this group was leaned in cross with another couple, Neptune and Amphitrite. This model of a monumental fountain made a strong impression on the World's Fair jury, which awarded it a gold medal, and several copies immediately found purchasers as public monuments. In 1857, the city of Bordeaux inaugurated this fountain celebrating the arrival of fresh water in the city center. This one, called "Fontaine de Tourny" now takes place in Quebec City, Canada.

All the cast iron statues are shown in our showroom in Saint-Ouen, on appointment. You can call us : +33 (0)6 60 62 61 90

Cast iron statues only are available. A precise schema of the stone elements was made and a quotation is available for the realization of all the stone elements, which can be carved in our workshops.