Deep within the Botanical Garden, a bronze figure stands silently. This is the Guillaume Fichet Statue. It commemorates a pivotal figure in printing history.
Guillaume Fichet was no ordinary man. Born in Savoy in 1433, he rose to become rector of the Sorbonne in Paris. His passion for knowledge led him to a revolutionary collaboration.
In 1470, Fichet partnered with Johann Heynlin. Together, they established the first printing press in France. They brought three printers from Basel. Their names were Michael Friburger, Ulrich Gering and Martin Crantz. This marked a turning point in European history.
Fichet oversaw the Sorbonne library from 1469 to 1471. The press’s first publication was the “Letters” of Gasparinus Pergamensis in 1470. Fichet’s own “Rhetorica” followed in 1471. The press gained fame by publishing speeches of Cardinal Basilios Bessarion.
Bessarion’s “Orations against the Turks” became a mass-propaganda piece. This was around 1471-72. It was one of the first of its kind in Europe. In 1472, Fichet and Bessarion left Paris for Rome.
But this statue is more than just a tribute to Guillaume Fichet. It is also a memorial to Octave Simon. Simon was a distant relative of Fichet. He was a sculptor who planned this statue. Simon wanted to highlight Fichet’s importance. He also aimed to show the cultural ties between France and Germany in the 15th century.
Sadly, Simon never saw his vision realized. In 1940, he joined the French Resistance. He was arrested in 1944. The Gestapo murdered him in prison.
Lionel Auvergne created the statue based on Simon’s 1939 design. Two identical sculptures were cast. One stands at the Cité Universitaire in Paris. The other was placed here in Mainz in 2001.
Look closely at the Guillaume Fichet Statue. On the right, you will see a printing press. This symbolizes Fichet’s introduction of printing to France. The book in his left hand represents his intellectual work.
The Guillaume Fichet Statue stands as a reminder of cultural exchange. It also honors resistance against oppression. It links Mainz and Paris. It connects the 15th century with today. It serves as a potent symbol of Franco-German connection.