Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The carved lintel fountain of Clermont-Ferrand is an architectural vestige of the 16th century, now integrated into the courtyard of a town building. Its most remarkable element is a re-use pediment, composed of a Renaissance lintel decorated with two joufflus loves surrounding a garland of flowers and fruits. These motifs, typical of Renaissance art, revolve around a central coat of arms in the shape of flattened diamond, adorned with two oars of boar, a crescent and a star. This type of ornamentation reflects the influence of Italian models in the French sculpture of the time, while integrating local or family symbols.

The lintel rests on two consoles, highlighting its monumental character despite its small size. The fountain, classified as a Historic Monument by decree of 12 February 1987, illustrates the importance of architectural re-uses in the preservation of heritage. Its current location, at 1 rue Notre-Dame-du-Port, in a historic area of Clermont-Ferrand, suggests a link to medieval and reborn urban planning. However, the accuracy of its location remains poor (level 5/10), depending on available sources, which may complicate its exact identification for visitors.

The sculpted loves, recurring figures of ancient mythology reinterpreted at the Renaissance, symbolize here abundance and joy, themes frequent in the decorative art of this period. The central coat of arms, although not attributed to a specific family in the sources, probably evokes a local sponsor or corporation. The inscription of the fountain as a historic monument bears witness to its heritage value, both for its artistic style and for its integration into the urban fabric of Clermont-Ferrand, a city marked by its volcanic history and its role in the Auvergne of the Ancien Régime.

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