Muttergottesbrunnen, Religious fountain monument in Kornmarkt, Heidelberg, Germany.
The Muttergottesbrunnen in Kornmarkt is a religious fountain installation centered on a crowned figure of Mary holding a scepter and bearing the Christ child. The figure stands upon a sphere supported by putti, with light rays extending from the sphere into the surrounding clouds.
The work was created in 1718 by Peter van den Branden during a period of religious transformation between Catholic and Protestant communities in Heidelberg. The present statue is a replica made between 1938 and 1940, with the original now protected in the Kurpfälzisches Museum.
The sculpture expresses deep religious devotion through its portrayal of Mary as Queen of Heaven. Visitors can see the Latin inscriptions and the symbolic composition with the Christ child in her arms when viewing it in person.
The fountain stands in the open air in a central location and is accessible at any time, allowing visitors to view it from different angles. The original with all its details can be seen in the nearby museum if you want to study the artistic refinements at leisure.
The four putti supporting the sphere beneath Mary's feet are important compositional elements often overlooked by visitors. These winged figures give the scene a dynamic quality that balances the stricter religious symbolism of the main figure.
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