FONTANA DEI QUATTRO FIUMI

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Title	FONTANA DEI QUATTRO FIUMI
Alternate Title	Fountain of the Four Rivers
View	Close view, from the southwest, depicting opening at center with sculptures of the River Ganges (design is by Bernini but executed by pupil Claude Poussin) on the right and the River Danube on the left
Notes	public amusement
Work Type	fountain sculpture obelisk art in public
Style/Period	Baroque
Creator Name	Bernini, Gian Lorenzo
Creator Nationality	Italian
School of Creator	Baroque
Date.Creator Birth	1598
Date.Creator Death	1680
Contributors to Project	the actual carving of the sculpture was done by assistants to Bernini
Major Design Aspects	radial plan anthropomorphic prominent allegorical choreographic
Elements & Spatial Types	coat-of-arms serpent horse alligator lion
Climate Type	Mediterranean
Country	Italy
City	Rome
State/Province	Lazio
Alternate Place Names	Piazza Navona
Art Medium	marble, travertine
Dates	1647-1651
Century	17C
Designation/Awards/Inscriptions	landmark
Photographer	Scott Gilchrist, Archivision
Date Photographed	9/30/1994
Subject Information	The central fountain in Piazza Novona is considered one of Bernini's masterpieces. The fountain took four years to complete with the actual carving done by assistants to Bernini. The four sculptures personify the main rivers of the four continents known at that time: The Danube is Europe, The Nile is Africa (which appears with a veiled head to indicate that its source was still unknown at that time), the Ganges is Asia and Rio represents the Americas. Funds to build the fountain were raised by an unpopular tax on bread. The obelisk was moved from the Circo di Massenzio on the Via Appia Antico. It is interesting to note that Bernini was not asked to submit a design for the fountain as the Pope reproached him for his close connection with his predecessor Urbanus VIII and for the technical failure of his attempt to erect the bell towers on St Peter's. However, Bernini found a way to have his model of the fountain seen by the Pope and he immediately got the commission. The rivalry between Bernini and Borromini is usually mentioned to explain the pose of the figure of the Nile who apparently cringes at the sight of the church of Sant'Agnese built by Borromini adjacent to the fountain. Seven beasts linked to the four rivers populate the fountain and add life to it.
Credit Line	Archivision Inc. (all images copyright Scott Gilchrist / Archivision.com)
Collection Title	Archivision (architecture, urban design, gardens, landscapes and public art)
Collection information	Collection administered by the Visual Resources manager, Architecture Library, (402) 472-1193

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