This fountain is located in Piazza Navona and in English in known as the Fountain of Neptune. There are two fountains that were designed by Giacomo della Porta that can be found on either end of Bernini’s Four Rivers Fountain. The Fontana del Moro sits on the southern end while Fontana del Nettuno sits on the north side. The base of this fountain was made in 1574 which was fund by Pope Gregory XIII. There are two different materials that are used for the basin on the upper and lower parts. The upper part of the basin was made of a local stone called Pietrasanta, which is rose marble, and the lower part was made of white marble.
Originally the fountain stood just with the basin by Porta and was not decorated for 300 years but in 1878 Antonio dell Bitta embellished the fountain by adding “Neptune fighting with an octopus” as well as Gregorio Zappala who added multiple sculptures around the fountain. The statues that were added by Gregorio Zappala included eight sea figures, two sea horses, two cherubs, two dolphins, and two sea nymphs. In the nineteenth century fountains were not needed as widely for drinking water and used to wash things as a result of the Italian state forming and Rome becoming a capital. Fountains gradually became a piece of art and something for the community around to enjoy.
Works Cited
"Fountain of Neptune, Rome." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 15 Mar. 2014. Web. 27 Mar. 2014.
"Piazza Navona - Rome." Piazza Navona - Rome. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 Mar. 2014.
Originally the fountain stood just with the basin by Porta and was not decorated for 300 years but in 1878 Antonio dell Bitta embellished the fountain by adding “Neptune fighting with an octopus” as well as Gregorio Zappala who added multiple sculptures around the fountain. The statues that were added by Gregorio Zappala included eight sea figures, two sea horses, two cherubs, two dolphins, and two sea nymphs. In the nineteenth century fountains were not needed as widely for drinking water and used to wash things as a result of the Italian state forming and Rome becoming a capital. Fountains gradually became a piece of art and something for the community around to enjoy.
Works Cited
"Fountain of Neptune, Rome." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 15 Mar. 2014. Web. 27 Mar. 2014.
"Piazza Navona - Rome." Piazza Navona - Rome. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 Mar. 2014.