Aristide Louis Fontana was the son of the Italian sculptor Fernando Fontana. He married Emma Bowkett, the daughter of the surgeon Thomas Edward Bowkett (1845–1910), at the Church of England parish church in Poplar, London, on 4th February 1871, signing the register as ‘Aristide Louis Fontana’. A son, Cesare Carlo Fontana, was born on 9th December 1871 at Carrara, in Tuscany. According to the 1881 UK Census, the family of three were living at 178 Buckingham Palace Road, London. From 180 Buckingham Palace Road he exhibited the following works at the Royal Academy: 1881 no. 1505, ‘The Pensierosa’. 1882, no. 1579, ‘Miss Ellen Terry, bust, marble’; no. 1645 ‘The Pensierosa, bust, marble’; no. 1648, ‘The Allegra; marble’.
1885, no. 1986, ‘Miss Mary Anderson as Parthenia; bust’.
He died on 22nd January 1907, at the age of 72, at Carrara, Tuscany.
Kieran Owens
