This small notepad is part of the complete line of products designed for the Palace of Versailles. Inspired by Ovid’s Metamorphoses, the Latona Fountain illustrates the legend of the mother of Apollo and Diana protecting her children from harm by the Lycian peasants and asking Jupiter to give her revenge, which he did by turning them into frogs and lizards. The central group, in marble, was sculpted by the Marsy brothers and represents Latona and her children.

Originally, in 1670, the group sat on a rock. It was surrounded by six frogs emerging half-way out of the water and twenty-four others placed around the fountain on a grassy platform. The goddess was facing the Palace at the time. This layout was changed by Jules Hardouin-Mansart between 1687 and 1689. The rock was replaced by a concentric marble base and the Latona group now looks toward the Grand Canal. The Latona Fountain is extended by a parterre containing the two lizard pools.

Dimensions: 10 x 16 cm
48 pages
Wove paper