# Havis Amanda fountain

[View the canonical artwork record](<https://beta.wga.hu/artists/vallgren-ville-rac4138c072119c/havis-amanda-fountain-r127da3fa912da4>)

## Artwork

- Artist: [VALLGREN, Ville](<https://beta.wga.hu/artists/vallgren-ville-rac4138c072119c>)
- Date: 1851-1900
- Technique: Bronze, granite, height 500 cm \(overall\)

## Commentary

The Art Nouveau statue, representing a female nude \(a mermaid\), was sculpted by Vallgren in 1906 in Paris. It was erected at its present location in 1908. According to Vallgren&#39;s letters, the model for the statue was a then 19-year-old Parisian woman, Marcelle Delquin. The mermaid stands on seaweed as she rises from the water, with four fish spouting water at her feet, surrounded by four sea lions. Vallgren intended to symbolize the rebirth of Helsinki. The fountain is very popular; it serves every year on Vappu \(Walpurgis night\) as a centrepiece for celebrations.

## Related artworks

- [Dancer](<https://beta.wga.hu/artists/vallgren-ville-rac4138c072119c/dancer-rc37e2fe58bf1a1>)
- [Door Knocker](<https://beta.wga.hu/artists/vallgren-ville-rac4138c072119c/door-knocker-r44fefe91cbc6fd>)
- [Havis Amanda fountain](<https://beta.wga.hu/artists/vallgren-ville-rac4138c072119c/havis-amanda-fountain-r3d73e3fbb5eb47>)
- [Havis Amanda fountain: the mermaid](<https://beta.wga.hu/artists/vallgren-ville-rac4138c072119c/havis-amanda-fountain-the-mermaid-r0a390d094a090a>)
- [Havis Amanda fountain: the mermaid](<https://beta.wga.hu/artists/vallgren-ville-rac4138c072119c/havis-amanda-fountain-the-mermaid-rac8a689a458bed>)
- [Rose Dance](<https://beta.wga.hu/artists/vallgren-ville-rac4138c072119c/rose-dance-r483f524aa8c01f>)
- [The Flower of Love](<https://beta.wga.hu/artists/vallgren-ville-rac4138c072119c/the-flower-of-love-r41f5382b610e05>)
- [The Widow](<https://beta.wga.hu/artists/vallgren-ville-rac4138c072119c/the-widow-ra5c7f70c580a79>)

## Attribution

[Web Gallery of Art](<https://beta.wga.hu/pages/about>)