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Saint Francis Fountain

Saint Francis Fountain, also known as Castiglioni Fountain, is one of Milan’s best-known fountains and among the most celebrated works by Giannino Castiglioni. Designed and sculpted by Castiglioni in Lierna on Lake Como, it is set against one side of Piazza San Angelo. In 1923, a competition was announced for a monument dedicated to Saint Francis of Assisi, with water as the chosen theme. Castiglioni won with a fountain conceived in simple blocks of granite, rather than the marble planned for the basin. For the face of Saint Francis, Castiglioni used his son, Pier Giacomo Castiglioni, as the model. The fountain was inaugurated in Milan on 18 December 1927.

Saint Francis Fountain beside a basin covered with fallen autumn leaves, with a robed statue holding a red rose.
Saint Francis Fountain with a robed statue holding a red rose, surrounded by fallen autumn leaves.
November 2018 © · CC BY-SA 4.0
Sepia-toned view of the Saint Francis Fountain with a robed figure leaning over the carved stone basin as water flows into the lower pool.
The Saint Francis Fountain in Milan, showing a robed figure at the carved stone basin and water spilling into the lower pool.
January 1920 © Unknown authorUnknown author · Public domain
Saint Francis Fountain with a robed figure feeding white birds beside a stone fountain.
Saint Francis Fountain shown with a robed figure feeding birds beside the fountain, framed by autumn foliage.
© Giannino Castiglioni · Public domain

Identification

TitleSaint Francis Fountain
TypeFountain; monument
ShapeOctagonal
Original nameFontana di San Francesco di Castiglioni; Fontana di Castiglioni; Fontaine Saint-François; Fontaine Castiglioni

Historical context

Commission contextBuilt in response to a 1923 architectural competition announced by the newspaper L'Italia on the theme of water
Competition prizeThe finalist's work was to be installed in a downtown square in Milan
Winning entryGiannino Castiglioni won the competition with his fountain
Selected sitePiazza Sant'Angelo, Milan
Site selectionPiazza Sant'Angelo was definitively chosen as the site

Creator

Design date1927
Model for Saint Francis's facePier Giacomo Castiglioni; Livio Castiglioni
Artist nationalityItalian
ArtistGiannino Castiglioni
Designed inLierna, near Lake Como

Discovery and provenance

Original locationPiazza Sant'Angelo, Milan, Italy
Place of creationLierna, a locality on Lake Como

Physical characteristics

Lower basin functionUsed as a drinking trough for animals
Saint Francis poseUpper body slightly bent forward; right arm and hand extended in a gesture of dialogue; left elbow resting on the edge of the basin
Saint Francis statue materialBronze
Bronze figuresSix bronze turtle doves on the rim
BasinLarge basin with a lower basin
Water featureWater spurts from the center of the basin and flows through four spouts into a lower basin
Main basin surface areaAbout [value missing in source fragment]
Basin material in the projectMarble
MaterialGranite; stone

Iconography and meaning

SubjectSaint Francis of Assisi, patron saint of Italy
DepictionSaint Francis is shown preaching to the group of turtle doves opposite him
InscriptionA verse from the Canticle of the Creatures is engraved in capital letters along the upper outer rim of the basin
Additional inscriptionPAX ET BONUM on the fountain's mouth

Location and ownership

Current locationAgainst one side of Piazza San Angelo, Milan, Italy

History and restoration

Inauguration date18 December 1927
Inaugurated byThe city of Milan
Place of inaugurationMilan
Caster of the bronze statueFonderia Artistica Battaglia, Milan

Other

NotabilityOne of the best-known fountains in Milan and one of the most famous fountains made by Giannino Castiglioni
Family modeling practiceThe Castiglionis often used family members as models