Right here in Piazza CLN, two allegorical statues command attention. These figures are not just stone. They represent the lifeblood of Turin: the Po and Dora rivers.
The Figura nel Paesaggio statues form part of two fountains. They are nestled behind the churches of San Carlo and Santa Cristina. The churches face Piazza San Carlo. Piazza CLN and its fountains were conceived together in 1936. Turin approved engineer Giuseppe Momo’s design. His plan was to create monumental stone facades for the new piazzetta. These facades would harmonize with the surrounding architecture. The design included fountains adorned with allegorical sculptures.
A competition was launched to select the artist. It was open to all young talents. Fifty-six sketches were submitted. Umberto Baglioni, born in Scalea in 1893, won. He chose to depict the rivers as human figures. The Po is represented by a bearded man. The Dora is a shapely woman. Both recline on marble bases. These are the Figura nel Paesaggio.
Construction began in August 1937. An electric pump system was installed. The fountain basins were built with reinforced concrete. These were clad in serizzo stone slabs. Then, the Figura nel Paesaggio statues were crafted from Seravezza marble. Finally, the basins were lined with ceramic material.
Unfortunately, the basins weren’t properly waterproofed. This led to leaks. The water flow had to be stopped. Except for a brief period in 1987, the fountains remained dry.
In 2005, a radical restoration took place. The stonework was repaired. The basins were thoroughly waterproofed. Smat, the Metropolitan Water Company of Turin, rebuilt the water system. The fountains were reopened on June 24, 2005. Sergio Chiamparino, then mayor, inaugurated them during the Feast of San Giovanni Battista. Turin’s patron saint was celebrated.
Some esoteric interpretations exist. Some see the male statue as the sun. The female statue is seen as the moon. They are perceived as masculine and feminine energies.
The Figura nel Paesaggio statues have even appeared in cinema. Director Dario Argento filmed scenes from “Profondo Rosso” in Piazza CLN in 1975. He recreated a bar inspired by Edward Hopper’s painting “Nighthawks”.
So, the Figura nel Paesaggio statues are more than just decorative art. They are symbols of Turin’s rivers. They also represent the city’s artistic and cultural history.