Bakhchisarai fountain

As you know, the Bakhchisarai fountain is not like a stream of water pouring out of the wall.
The fountain of tears (selsebil) is a creation of the master Omer in memory of the early deceased wife of Crimea-Girey. The mystery surrounding the name of Dilara-bikech and the story of the creation of the fountain at her grave has given rise to romantic legends. One of the legends Pushkin heard in the family of General Raevsky,
together with whom he traveled across the Caucasus and the Crimea in 1820.
The legend of Maria Pototskaya, kidnapped in
Poland and who lived in a harem under the name Dilara-Bikech, her death by hand
blinded by Zarema's jealousy, the fountain erected in her memory,
inspired Pushkin to the poem "The Fountain of Bakhchisarai" and the poem
"The Fountain of the Bakhchisarai Palace".
Bryullov met Pushkin in Moscow, often met with him in St. Petersburg in the fall of 1836. After the death of the poet, he was going to take part in the publication of Pushkin's collected works.
The poetry and drama of Pushkin's poem attracted the artist. The painting was for Bryullov a kind of artistic monument in honor of the deceased poet. It was started shortly after the death of Pushkin.

In Pushkin's poem, Bryullov chose not the dramatic moment of the collision of Zarema with Maria, but a description of the serene life of a half-asleep harem.

Around the playful fountain
On silk carpets one
They sat in a crowd
And with childish [joy] they looked,
Like a fish in clear depth
Walked on the marble bottom.
Deliberately to her bottom others
Dropped gold earrings

Striving to get closer to the poem, Pushkin, Bryullov in subsequent sketches not only introduced Maria into the composition. Her light silhouette with her head lowered as a light spot is drawn against the background of their colorful clothes.

The best monument to the poet was left by the artist Bryullov with his painting “The Fountain of Bakhchisarai”.

“In the field of art, in the creativity of the heart, the Russian people have discovered amazing strength, having created ... wonderful literature, amazing painting and original music, which is admired by the whole world ... The giant Pushkin is our greatest pride and the most complete expression of the spiritual forces of Russia, and next to him is the magical Glinka and the wonderful Bryullov ... ”-Maxim Gorky