Fountain · Switzerland · Restored

Kindlifresserbrunnen

The Kindlifresserbrunnen is a painted stone figural fountain installed at Kornhausplatz in Bern, created by Hans Gieng in 1545–1546. It shows a seated ogre devouring a naked child, with a sack of further children at his side, and stands atop a decorated Corinthian column with a carved procession of armed bears at the base.

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Photograph via Wikimedia Commons

First raised

1545

Its prime

1546

Today

Restored

As it stood in 1546

What Kindlifresserbrunnen looked like in its prime.

A life-sized polychrome stone statue of a seated ogre on a tall Corinthian column, painted in reds, greens, ochres and gilt; the ogre wears a rolled-brim pointed hat and is biting a naked infant while more children spill from a shoulder-slung sack. The column shaft is carved with garlands and ends in a base frieze of armed bears in armour, piper and drummer. The fountain stands in a cobbled city square beside pale sandstone facades.

Step inside

6 places to explore in 1546.

The record describes 6 distinct spots at Kindlifresserbrunnen, the full exterior approach. Create your own photoreal reconstruction and explore every one, more scenes means more photos, more angles and more of the immersive experience.

Approach on Kornhausplatz (exterior)Full elevation of fountain and column (exterior)Close-up of ogre devouring a child (exterior detail)Sack of children (exterior detail)Base frieze: armed bears procession (exterior detail)Street-level looking up (dramatic low angle)

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