The extension of the Porte de Saint-Cloud in the late 1920s and early 1930s was one of the largest urban planning projects carried out in Paris after the demolition of the Thiers Wall in the interwar period. Among the contractors for the project was the Landowski Company, founded by the family of the Polish sculptor active in France, Paul Landowski.

Genesis of creation. Competition on the occasion of the 1937 International Exhibition.

In the mid-1920s, the idea of a Porte de Saint-Cloud square was conceived among the city authorities. On 11 July 1929, a competition was announced for the extension of the Porte de Saint-Cloud, one of the former entrance roads to Paris, marking the Paris-Versal axis. The impetus for the extension was the Paris International Exhibition planned for 1937. The winners of the competition were the French architects Billard and Pommier, working with the firm Landowski.

The architectural design envisaged the creation of a roundabout surrounding a small square on an ellipse plan with two cylindrical fountains. Paul Landowski's initial concept was for two illuminated fountains, made of glass, with a purely decorative function. The design team drew inspiration from ephemeral light shows presented at world exhibitions. The inauguration of the foundation was intended as a prelude to the mulimedia mass event planned for 1937.

The organisation of the Paris International Exhibition, taking place in the shadow of the impending Second World War, highlighted the complicated political situation in Europe and the prevailing national mood in France. An attempt to change the dimension of the exhibition from propaganda to 'Art and technology in modern life' (French: Les Arts et les techniques dans la vie moderne) failed. Billard, Pommier and Landowski's project was overshadowed by the national pavilions of Russia and the Third Reich, among others.

Fiasco or success of Landowski's project?

From the outset, the concept for the construction of the illuminated fountains at the Porte-de-Saint-Cloud envisaged minor modifications during the execution works, especially within the finial of the architectural structure. However, due to the high costs and technical difficulties involved in realising the project designed by Landowski, it was decided in 1931 to change the material used for the fountains - glass was replaced by stone from Vilhonneur.

Despite the challenges of making the reliefs in hard stone, designing a suitable plumbing system for the fountain's water outlet and a method of hiding the light sources and mechanics within its structure, the work was completed before the planned exhibition. The ceremonial opening of the fountain took place on 17 July 1936.

The sculptural programme

The monumental fountains, each 10 metres high and 4 metres in diameter, were decorated by Landowski and representatives of the Vaucouleurs artists' union. Each of the pylons features bas-reliefs and 8 bronze patinated medallions.

The sculptural programme of the southern fountain takes up the theme of the importance of the Seine for France. The shaft of the pylon shows the course of the river, the crops made possible by its existence and the characteristic buildings representing the most important cities through which the Seine flows.

The northern fountain depicts an allegory of the city of Paris. Figures of nymphs and sailors are interspersed there with images of characters from the comedia dell'arte or figures dancing the danse macabre.