Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The Jean-Baptiste de La Salle fountain, located in Rouen on Place Saint-Clément, was built in 1875 by sculptor Alexandre Falguière and architect Édouard Deperthes. She paid tribute to Jean-Baptiste de La Salle, founder of the Brothers of Christian Schools, who died in 1719 at the mansion of Saint-Yon, near Rouen. The project, initiated in 1868 by Brother Lucard, was approved by the City Council in 1872 and financed by national and international subscriptions, including cities such as Elbeuf, Bayonne, Nîmes, as well as donations from London, New York and Montreal.

Originally installed in Place Saint-Sever, the fountain was inaugurated on 2 June 1875 in the presence of cantatas composed for the occasion by Charles Gounod and Charles Vervoitte. It was moved in 1888 to its current location, near Saint Clement's church. During the Second World War, the bronze statue barely escaped melting thanks to the intervention of Georges Lanfry, president of the French Federation of Buildings. The fountain, classified as a historic monument in 1991, was renovated in 2021.

The monument represents Jean-Baptiste de La Salle teaching two schoolchildren, symbolizing his commitment to education. The base, adorned with the arms of his family, the Institut des Frères, and the cities of Reims and Rouen, bears two inscriptions: a dedication to the Venerable of La Salle and an excerpt from the Bull of Benedict XIII approving the Institute in 1725. Four children at the corner of the base embody students from the four continents where his work has spread. Two bas-reliefs illustrate significant episodes of his life: the distribution of bread to the poor and the visit of King James II of England.

The fountain, made of bronze and stone (Damparis and Échaillon), is 12.40 meters high, with a statue of 3.80 meters and a pedestal of 7 meters side. His style and iconography inspired other works, such as those of St.Remi Basilica in Reims or St.Peter's Basilica in Rome. The basin, with a circumference of 47 meters, rests on a richly decorated base, reflecting the national and international importance of Jean-Baptiste de La Salle.

The project was supported by religious, prefectural and municipal authorities, including Brother Philippe, superior general of the Institute, and Cardinal de Bonnethout. Participatory funding, including donations from French and foreign cities, demonstrates the extent of its outreach. The fountain, owned by the commune of Rouen, remains a symbol of the educational and humanist heritage of Jean-Baptiste de La Salle.

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