Fountains of Central Park |
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Bethesda Fountain is the central feature on the lower level of Bethesda Terrace (formerly known as The Water Terrace) overlooking The Lake in New York City's Central Park. The sculpture in the fountain was designed by Emma Stebbins in 1868 and unveiled in 1873. Emma Stebbins was the first woman to receive a public commission for a major work of art in New York City. The eight-foot bronze statue portrays a female winged angel upon the top of the fountain where water spews out and cascades down into an upper depression then downward further into the surrounding pool. The base of the fountain was designed by Calvert Vaux who was the architect of all the originally built features of Central Park. Jacob Wrey Mould designed the original sculptural details of the park. Beneath the angel stands four, 4-footed cherubs which represent Temperance, Purity, Health and Peace. This fountain is also called the “Angel of the Waters”, referring to the Gospel of John, Chapter 5 where there is a story of an angel blessing the Pool of Bethesda giving it healing powers. The lily the angel carries in her hand represents purity with her other hand she touches the water with her blessing. The Fountain celebrates the opening of the Croton Aqueduct, which brought fresh water to New Yorkers in 1842.
In March 2007 The Central Park Conservancy completed a restoration of the Bethesda Terrace Arcade’s treasured Minton tile ceiling, the only known example of Minton encaustic ceramic tiles used in a suspended ceiling. Most of the tiles had been in storage for more than 20 years.
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In the heart of the Central Park Conservatory’s South garden is an English style garden, nested within the flowers, trees, and hedges. From there arises a fountain of two bronze figures representing Mary and Dickon, the main characters from Francis Hodgson Burnett’s American children’s classic, The Secret Garden (1911). In 1924, two years after Ms. Burnett’s death, her friends and admirers formed a committee to commemorate her great literary works. They chose a piece of work from sculptor Bessie Potter Vonnoh to depict the Secret Garden. Mary is the girl holding a bowl where the sparrows drink and Dickon is the boy playing a flute reclined next to her. Dedication of the bronze statue was made in 1936. In the late 1970’s the sculpture was in need of restoration. In 1980 missing portions of the piece were recast and reinstated. In 1994 The Central Park Conservancy once again recast details of the sculpture and replaced the plumbing so that the spouting fountain was once again functional.
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The Geyser Fountain is located in the Conservatory Garden’s Italian Garden. The area is surrounded with a formal green lawn, well clipped, symmetrical hedges and crab-apple trees. The Geyser is right in front of a pergola which boasts the only floral color the garden has to offer in the Summer time. It is a favorite spot for photographers to shoot wedding parties. .
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The Untermyer Water Fountain is located in the Conservatory Garden’s French style garden. The bronze piece was sculptured by Walter Schott. It depicts a circle of three young women, with wet clinging dresses, dancing in the fountain’s spray. There is one large jet of water that sprays out from the middle of the limestone base on which they seem to be dancing in a circular motion. After the death of Untermyer, the sculpture was brought to Central Park in 1947. It is a cast of the original which was made in Germany.
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Cherry Hill Fountain is located in a circular plaza on top of Cherry Hill in the park. Designed by Jacob Wrey Mould, Calvert Vaux’s assistant, in 1860s, the fountain was originally used as a watering trough for horses and a resting place for carriages. Water sprays out of eight small gold flowers into a circle of black goblet shaped bowls which spill down onto a dome of granite then drip slowly into the sculpted bluestone basin, inset with Milton tiles. There are eight round frosted glass lamps on the very top of this fountain. A very elegant look for horses. Today, Cherry Hill Fountain is surrounded by a circle of benches where visitors can take a rest on their walk though the Park. The Conservancy along with private gifts restored the operation of this fountain in 1998.
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Is a second sculpture featuring Lewis Carroll’s famous characters; Alice, the Duchess, the Queen, the Griffon, the Cheshire Cat and the White Rabbit. The fountain was originally in Heckscher Playground and dedicated to Ms. Loeb, a writer and advocate for children. It was moved in 1987 to the Levin Playground and adapted as a water feature, popular in summertime with the children who play in the waters spray. It is only one minute north of the Alice in Wonderland Statue.
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The Pulitzer Fountain is the centerpiece of the southern part of the Grand Army Plaza; opposite the Plaza Hotel. at 59th Street and Fifth Avenue. The fountain was modeled after the Place de la Concorde in Paris and was named for newspaper publisher Joseph Pulitzer who died in 1911. The fountain features round granite basins that catch cascading water, and a bronze statue of Pomona, the Roman goddess of abundance. It spotlights the theme of wealth and worldly comfort. It The fountain was designed by sculpture Karl Bitter and officially found its place in 1916 at the Grand Army Plaza. In 1991 the fountain underwent a complete restoration including new plumbing.
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