Porcellino

• Boar

Porcellino is a bronze sculpture of a wild boar, located in front of the Modern Languages building at the University of Waterloo. The piece weighs approximately 700 pounds.

Porcellino is a cast of a bronze fountain originally made by the Baroque master Pietro Tacca in 1620. This cast along with four others, was produced by Marinelli of Florence in 1962. The other copies are in Florence, Italy; Sydney, Australia; Victoria, British Columbia; and California. Additional casts of the fountain created over the years can be found around the world. For many years, the original fountain by Pietro Tacca sat on the south side of the Straw Market in Florence, Italy. Today, the piece is held by the Museo Stefano Bardini in Palazzo Mozzi and a modern cast is installed by the market.

The fountain cast by Pietro Tacca was based on a Hellenistic marble statue known as Cinghiale, which was discovered in Rome and relocated to Florence in the mid-sixteenth century by the Medici family. Today, the original marble statue is in the Uffizi Museum in Florence, Italy.

Cinghiale and Porcellino have been associated with the Calydonian boar hunt from Greek mythology. Some researchers have suggested that the boar was likely part of a larger hunting scene. The unique position of the boar is noteworthy, as it is neither in repose or attack and appears as if suddenly awakened by the sound of the hunt.[1]

The Porcellino sculpture on the University of Waterloo campus was donated to the Faculty of Mathematics’ Descartes Foundation in 1978 by Dr. Henry Crapo. Dr. Crapo served as a professor in the Faculty of Mathematics from 1965 to 1977 and was known as a patron of the arts.

Upon its donation, the Works of Art Committee on campus considered installing the sculpture near Laurel Creek across from the Student Life Centre.[2] However, the committee ultimately decided to place the sculpture inside the Modern Languages foyer in January 1979.[3]

In the 1980s students used the boar as a meeting place and rubbed its nose for good luck before exams. Due to its location, the sculpture was informally adopted as the mascot for the Faculty of Arts.[4] The piece was also the subject of pranks on campus and was kidnapped by Engineering students in 1991 and dressed as a dog.[5]

In the early 1990s, Dr. Brian Hendley, the Dean of Arts, asked Ann Roberts, staff member in the Department of Fine Arts, to identify a suitable permanent location for the sculpture, where it could be securely installed using bolts and concrete. Initial ideas for potential sites included the Davis Centre Quadrangle, the Arts Quad, and East Campus Hall.[6] The decision was made to place the sculpture in front of the Modern Languages building in 1994. On June 4, 1994, the campus hosted a celebration for the unveiling of the boar as part of the annual Waterloo Weekend for alumni.[7]

[1] University of Waterloo Archives. Topical files collection. Boar. 2020-04-Boar. ; Information via Porcellino – Wikipedia.

[2] “What a boar!” Gazette, Wednesday, July 19, 1978, (v.18, n.41), p. 8. ; University of Waterloo Archives. Topical files collection. Boar. 2020-04-Boar.

[3] “Wild boar tamed by kindness.” Gazette, Wednesday, January 24, 1979 (v.19, n.19), p.1.

[4] University of Waterloo Archives. Topical files collection. Boar. 2020-04-Boar.

[5] “STUNT.” Iron Warrior, Friday, October 11, 1991, p. 14.

[6] “Pig in search of a home.” Gazette, Wednesday, January 15, 1992 (v.32, n.17), p. 3.

[7] “Boars’ coming home: site outside ML planned.” Gazette, Wednesday, March 9, 1994 (v.34, n. 26) p. 3.