Vatican Museums

The bronze work depicting Pope Martin V conserved in the Vatican collections, along with the version in the Museum of the Duomo di Milano, is one of the two posthumous casts from the models produced by Fontana for the First Level Competition for the Fifth Door of the Duomo of Milan. As indicated in the Invitation to the Competition, as well as the general theme of the door, “Origins and Events in the History of the Duomo”, it was requested that certain specific episodes were depicted, including Pope Martin V in 1417 consecrates the High Altar. Fontana chose to concentrate solely on the figure of the Pontiff and the altar: the Pope, in the act of giving his blessing, projects forward from the bronze surface, drawing the attention of and involving the observer.
Requested to participate alongside numerous other sculptors, Fontana was selected along with Messina and Minguzzi for the second level of the Competition; their works were exhibited at the Ninth Milan Triennial.