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The fountain at Aranjuez now has a
large bronze figure of Bacchus by Jonghelinck (1570) (11) as replacement for the Samson
statue which was given away in 1623 and now in the Victoria & Albert Museum. The
fountain itself is small, the outer wall being only 6 ½ feet (198.2 cm) from the centre.
Even the beautifully carved niches are small; height 18 ½ inches (47 cm), width 10 ¾
inches (27.4 cm), full depth 7 inches (17.8 cm), which includes the 2 inch (5 cm) ledge in
front of the niche. Ledges extend in front of the niche on either side perhaps to enable a
viewer to better see the profiles of the monkeys if they were set well forward on the edge
of the niche or even projected out of the niche. Being set back from the face with the
ledges opening out on either side give the niches added distinction, showcases for the
skill of a great artist.
The horizontal bar at the back of
the niche from where the arched top springs starts at 13 ¾ inches (35 cm) and the arched
top with the drapery is shallowly carved and would curve over those missing monkeys. The
niches are below eye level and the outer wall is given a flat ledge perhaps to encourage
the viewer to sit and admire what he or she sees. The material of the fountain is a yellow
sandstone and bronze monkeys would contrast well against the stone especially in
silhouette from a distance. It is important to record that one side is more weathered than
the other. Some sandstones can weather easily.
Water was contained in the basin
above the niches and propelled upwards and also channelled down into the pool below. There
seems to be no holes or attachment points on the floor of the niches which poses the
important question "How would the missing monkeys be attached?" They cannot sit
flat, fixed to the floor, but would obviously need some kind of support, perhaps a
pedestal that could be adjusted for position and then mortared in. Obviously a pedestal
would have to be removed when the fountain was first dismantled in 1584.
The fountain at Aranjuez is today
in poor condition as the seals which join the basin together after it was sawn through in
1601 for transportation by ship to Spain have come apart. The fountain leaks and is now
kept empty presumably to stop further deterioration.
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