Broder Fountain, Fountain on Lindenplatz, St. Gallen, Switzerland
The Broder Fountain stands on Lindenplatz, not on St. Leonhard-Strasse. At the top is a nymph wearing only a thin cloth, flanked by two reclining nymphs at her feet; two levels below, three children ride a turtle, a dolphin and a goose. The bronze figures are copies; the gilded-bronze originals with plaster cores are in the Historical Museum.
The fountain was inaugurated in 1895 to commemorate the introduction of Lake Constance water supply to St. Gallen households. This monument emerged as a celebration of a major infrastructure improvement that changed daily life in the city.
The fountain's name honours cantonal judge Hans Broder (1845–1891), who left his fortune to the city for the work. Its crowning figure is a standing nymph, flanked by two reclining nymphs; two levels below, three children ride a turtle, a dolphin and a goose. Legend holds that Bösch brought a nude model from Zurich, causing a small scandal and police intervention until he was granted artistic freedom.
The fountain stands on Lindenplatz, by the former Multertor gate, in the city centre of St. Gallen. The bronze figures on the fountain are copies placed in 2000; the gilded galvanobronze originals, which have a plaster core, are kept in the Historical Museum. Look for the three children riding a turtle, a dolphin and a goose two levels below the nymphs.
The fountain's construction was funded by Judge Hans Broder's estate, who left a substantial sum to the city for this project. This generous donation shows how private bequests became public monuments in Swiss communities.
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