Who designed the Saint Mang Fountain and when was it built?

The Saint Mang Fountain was designed by German sculptor Georg Wrba and erected in 1905 during the reign of Prince Regent Luitpold, as inscribed on the fountain basin. The fountain is a masterpiece of ornamental design featuring a canopy and numerous decorative sculptures.

What makes the Saint Mang statue unique compared to traditional representations?

Georg Wrba's depiction of Saint Magnus of Füssen deviates from tradition by showing him as a young man in a short robe, portrayed as 'Christian Siegfried' rather than in his typical form. He holds a crucifix in one hand while the other is raised in benediction, standing on a small column with water faucets.

What are the four elements represented around the Saint Mang Fountain?

The four elements are symbolized by bronze animal sculptures with riders at the fountain's columns: Fire is represented by a Unicorn with a faun rider, Water by a Stag with a young merman, Air by a Hind with a bird-clawed boy holding a bird, and Earth by an Alpine ibex with a human-footed boy holding a bow. Water flows from carved stone masks beneath each animal head into small basins.

How many nymphs support the fountain's central basin?

According to the fountain's design, approximately ten nymphs carry the small circular basin that sits beneath Saint Magnus's statue in the center of the fountain. This classical element adds to the ornate and elaborate design of the monument.

What decorative features top and surround the Saint Mang Fountain's canopy?

The top of the baldachin is crowned with a putto holding the coat of arms of Bavaria, while the four columns supporting the canopy are adorned with gargoyles representing various animals. The entire structure creates an elaborate architectural and sculptural display typical of early 20th-century German fountain design.

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Fountains, Squares and Bridges 📍 Kempten, Germany 150 views

Saint Mang Fountain

Saint Mang Fountain (Georg Wrba, German sculptor ) is covered with a canopy and adorned with a number of sculptures. In the center, under the canopy we find St. Magnus of Füssen; Deviating from the traditional representation of the saint Wrba shows him as a young man in a short r...

Photo · Melissa B.

Saint Mang Fountain — Kempten, Germany.

Location

Kempten

Type

Fountains, Squares and Bridges

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About Saint Mang Fountain

Saint Mang Fountain - Kempten | Secret World Trip Planner

Saint Mang Fountain (Georg Wrba, German sculptor ) is covered with a canopy and adorned with a number of sculptures. In the center, under the canopy we find St. Magnus of Füssen; Deviating from the traditional representation of the saint Wrba shows him as a young man in a short robe, as "Christian Siegfried". In one hand he holds a crucifix, the other is raised in benediction. The statue stands on a small column with faucets, placed in a circular fountain basin with on the edge the inscription: anno domini 1905 errichtet under der regierung des prinz-regenten luitpold This small basin is carried by ten(?) nymphs

Around the large fountains basin, at the columns of the canopy, are bronze sculptures of animals with riders, boys with animal legs and feet, symbolic of the four elements. Under each of the animal heads mascarons are carved into the stone. Out of the mouths of these masks a jet of water flows into a small basin.

Feuer / Fire: Einhorn / Unicorn, ridden by a boy with hooves ('faun'), holding his knees. Water: Hirsch / Stag, ridden by a boy with fins ('young merman'), blowing a conch. Luft / Air: Hirschkuh / Hind, ridden by a boy with bird claws, holding a bird in his hand. Erde / Earth: Steinbock / Alpine ibex, ridden by a boy with human feet, holding a bow (?) in his hands.