Zicht op de tuin van het Palais-Royal 1843 - 1844

Philippe Benoist created this rendering of the Palais-Royal garden using lithography. The garden's layout embodies order and control, symbolized by straight lines and symmetrical arrangements. The most powerful symbol is the fountain, centrally placed and a timeless archetype of life and purification. Images of fountains can be traced back to ancient Roman courtyards, where they symbolized abundance. The motif evolved through the Renaissance, becoming grander and more elaborate, reflecting civic pride and power. Consider Bernini’s Trevi Fountain; the visual language of cascading water invokes an emotional response, a sense of awe and wonder. Here, the fountain creates an emotional pull; its presence suggests a space of reflection and renewal amid the city's bustle. It connects the Palais-Royal to a long line of gardens designed as spaces of contemplation and respite. The fountain has passed through time, transformed, and now, it lives again in the Palais-Royal.