Statues - Hither & Thither

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Genève
Genève (Canton)

Rue de la Cité

La Fontaine de L'Escalade

L'Escalade Fountain

(Wikipedia)

Johannes Leeb
1857

Description

Fountain with a column surmounted by a statue of a woman representing Genève with mural crown and a shield with the coat of arms of Genève. The middle part is a tower, to which the ennemies François de Gerbaix de Sonnaz, Jacques de Chaffardon and François de Brunaulieu has put their ladders, on the fourth side is a small bronze statue of Victory under Genève's motto post tenebras lux. At the base two bronze reliefs, a list of names of the Genevois who died during tat night and a text on the inauguration of the fountain.

Erigé en Mémoire
du 12 Décembre 1602
1857

Jean Canal, Syndic
Louis Bandière, Jean Vandel
Louis Gallatin, Pierre Cabriol
Marc Cambiago, Nicol. Bogueret
Jacques Mercier, Abrah. de Baptista
Mart. Debolo, Daniel Humbert
Mich. Monard, Phil. Poteau
Franc. Bousezel, Jean Guignet
Jacques Petit, Girard Marsi

Fighting between Savoyards and the people of Genève, with council Jean Baudichon de la Maisonneuve with his sword in two hands.
Pastor and theologian Théodore de Bèze preaching.

(click on the photo for an enlargement in a separate window.)

The water spouts in the fountain through two bronze dragons and two Medusa's heads.

Inscription(s)

Signed: ....hen 1857

Annotation

On December 11 and December 12 1602 the forces of the Duke of Savoy and those of Philip III of Spain, launched an attack on the city-state of Genève. The Genève citizens defeated them by preventing them from scaling the wall (a climb in French is an escalade). The night guard Isaac Mercier raised the alarm, church bells were rung, and the Genevois were alerted. The populace fought alongside their town militia. The duke's 2000-plus mercenaries were beaten.

Sculptor

Johannes Leeb (Memmingen 1790 - München 1863), German sculptor (Wikipedia).

Sources & Information

Journal de Genève, 16 September 1857 (through Archives Historiques Le Temps).
Pistoliers Genevois, through Historique de l'Escalade.

Locatie (N 46°12'13" - E 6°8'37") (Satellite view: Google Maps)

Item Code: chge024; Photograph: 5 June 2013
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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