Assisi / Ascesi
INFORMATION
Font ID: 07462ASS
Object Type: Baptismal Font1
Font Century and Period/Style: 12th century, Romanesque
Church / Chapel Name: Duomo (San Rufino)
Font Location in Church: Inside, righ-side aisle, W end
Church Patron Saint(s): St. Rufino [3rd century martyr; bishop of Assisi]
Church Address: Piazza San Rufino, 3, 06081 Assisi PG, Italy -- Tel.: +39 075 812283
Site Location: Perugia, Umbria, Italy, Europe
Directions to Site: Assissi is located off the SR444, about 20 km E of Perugia. The cathedral is located in Piazza San Rufino (Piazza del Duomo)
Ecclesiastic Region: Diocesi di Assisi-Nocera Umbra-Gualdo Tadino
Additional Comments: famous person font: St. Francis of Assisi in 1181, and St. Clare (Santa Chiara) in 1194, were baptised in this font
Font Notes:
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The baptismal font at the Duomo of Assissi has the claim to the baptism of both St. Francis and St. Clare [source: Peter Orenski in Mirrors of Conflict, www.tmealf.com/assisi.htm] -- also emperor Frederick II? According to the Museo Diocesano e cripta di San Rufino Assissi [https://www.assisimuseodiocesano.it/sulle-orme-di-san-francesco-vivente/] [accessed 16 May 2025] the font is made from a single column of granite formerli in Santa Maria Maggiore: "Il fonte battesimale, formato da una colonna di granito, secondo la tradizione fu trasportato nella Basilica Ugoniana dalla chiesa di Santa Maria Maggiore, che in precedenza aveva il titolo di Cattedrale di Assisi. In questo fonte furono battezzati San Francesco ( 1181 o 1182), Santa Chiara (1193) San Gabriele dell’Addolorata (1838) e, secondo la tradizione l’imperatore Federico II di Svevia." [NB: the cylindrical basin is encased in a metal frame patterned the same as the railing of the enclosure in which the font is located, making it practically imposible to discern or photograph the details on the font other than the upper rim moulding]. Described in the Italian Wikipedia entry for the cathedral [https://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cattedrale_di_San_Rufino] [accessed 16 May 2025]: "Navata destra. Prima campata: Fonte battesimale. Antica conca marmorea dove furono battezzati San Francesco, Santa Chiara, San Gabriele dell'Addolorata e forse, nel 1197, Federico II di Svevia."
COORDINATES
UTM: 33T 306046 4771390
Latitude & Longitude (Decimal): 43.07043, 12.61777
Latitude & Longitude (DMS): 43° 4′ 13.55″ N, 12° 37′ 3.97″ E
MEDIUM AND MEASUREMENTS
Material: stone, granite? / marble?