Wittelsbacher Fountain (Lenbachplatz)

Wittelsbacher fountain
	The Wittelsbacher fountain at night
place	Munich , Bavaria
country	Germany
use	Fountain
construction time	1893-1895
architect	Adolf von Hildebrand
Architectural style	classicism
Technical specifications
Building material	Untersberger Hofbruch marble , limestone
Coordinates
location	Coordinates: 48 ° 8 '28.8 " N , 11 ° 34' 9.6" E 48 ° 8 '28.8 " N , 11 ° 34' 9.6" E

The Wittelsbacher Brunnen is a monumental fountain on the north-western edge of Munich city center, at the transition from Lenbachplatz to Maximiliansplatz . It was built between 1893 and 1895 according to plans by the sculptor Adolf von Hildebrand with the help of Erwin Kurz (sculptor) in the classicism style. His motif is an allegory of the primal forces of the element water. With its calm and clear design, and also from an urban planning point of view, the fountain is considered to be one of the most artistically accomplished facilities in the Bavarian capital.

history

The rediscovery of the aesthetic design principles of classical antiquity in the first half of the 19th century brought a return to the art of building fountains during the Renaissance . As part of the redesign of the transition between Karlsplatz and Maximiliansplatz, today's Lenbachplatz , a new fountain was to be built on the remains of the former city wall.

The facility was donated by the City of Munich, which wanted to honor the completion of a new high-pressure pipeline from the Mangfall Valley to supply the citizens with drinking water in 1883. In 1889 she announced a competition to design the fountain, from which Hildebrand's sketches emerged as the winning design. The award of the contract was tied to the condition that Hildebrand should move his residence to Munich. After almost two years of work, the fountain was unveiled on June 12, 1895.

For Hildebrand, the Wittelsbach fountain was the first in a series of five monumental city fountains. As a result, further fountains and other buildings were built in Munich.

The complex was badly damaged in the air raids on Munich during World War II and was restored after the war by the sculptor and Hildebrand student Theodor Georgii . On October 3, 1952, the fountain was put back into operation.

architecture

The ground plan for the fountain is a 25-meter-wide surrounding basin. It has the shape of a semicircle bulging towards the square. The circle is drawn in on the rear side, two rectangles extend the pelvis on the left and right. The main basin rises from it in the form of a stylized rocky landscape. Inside is a two-story limestone bowl in relief.

Allegory of Destruction

Allegory of the power of blessing

The main basin is flanked by two monumental sculptures made of Untersberg Hofbruch marble , in which the ancient theme of the representation of humans and animals can be found.

The left shows a youth riding a fish-tailed water horse, which as it were rises from the water . With both hands he holds a boulder with which he starts to throw. With the figure, Hildebrand created an allegory of the destructive power of water, an allusion to the untamed power of mountain streams in the headwaters of the Munich aqueduct, where they still carry debris with them.

The right figure shows an Amazon. She sits on a fish-tailed aquatic bull rising from the water . With her left hand she holds out a bowl of water to the viewer. This figure symbolizes the fertile and healing power of water, which it has for people after it has been tamed and channeled.