Statues - Hither & Thither

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Bennwihr
Haut-Rhin
Alsace

Place de la Mairie

Fontaine de Sainte Odile

Saint Odile Fountain

St Odile of Alsace
Obernai c. 662 - Mont Sainte-Odile c. 720
patroness of good eyesight
(Wikipedia)

Gérard Ambroselli
1987

Description

Circular basin with in the center a pedestal with a sandstone statue of Saint Odile with a blind girl and her dog. On the sides of the pedestal is a 13 m long wall with reliefs on both sides. The reliefs depict various scenes and texts.

Front

*left* blutberg noel 1944: girl with flowers near three helmets, French, American and German, with in the background the destroyed church of Bennwihr and the war monument et paix sur la terre: Two deer drinking from a small basin.	*right* aux hommes: a kissing couple in an orchard. de bonne volonté: people in the rebuilt village of Bennwihr.

Back

*left* fidelité 22 aout 1987: coat of arms of Bennwihr between grapes.	*right* liberté 24 decembre 1944: coat of arms of the Alsace (with motto ne pas subir) between French and American flags.

The back half border of the basin shows reliefs showing "La ronde des enfants de Bacchus chantant l'hymne de la Kermesse de Faust, autour de la grappe de la terre promise" - The round dance of the children of Bacchus singing the anthem of the Kermesse from Faust, around the grape of the promised land - with text in vino veritas and the quote from Faust: jeune adepted - tonneau n'en excepte que l'eau.

Inscription(s)

Signed: G A

Annotation

The monument was unveiled 22 August 1987.

Sculptor

Gérard Ambroselli (Paris 1906 - Saint-Pierre-en-Port 2000), French painter and sculptor (Wikipedia).

Sources & Information

Fontaines de France.

Locatie (N 48°8'39" - E 7°19'28") (Satellite view: Google Maps)

Item Code: fral056; Photograph: 15 April 2012
Of each statue we made photos from various angles and also detail photos of the various texts.
If you want to use photos, please contact us via the contact form (in Dutch, English or German).
© Website and photos: René & Peter van der Krogt

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