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Fountain of the Four Rivers

Gian Lorenzo Bernini (Italian architect, 1598-1680)
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Alternative Title
Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi
URI
http://hdl.handle.net/1721.3/119241
Date
1647-1651
Description
Close view, from south, 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; The actual carving of the sculpture was done by assistants to Bernini. Its travertine base, populated with four giant marble personifications of the rivers Danube, Nile, Ganges and Plate [the four great rivers in the four continents recognized by the Renaissance geographers: the Nile in Africa, Ganges in Asia, Danube in Europe, and Río de la Plata in America. Each has animals and plants that further carry forth the identification.]... supports an ancient granite obelisk moved from the Circus of Maxentius. Bernini daringly pierced the base on all sides, thus opening a view through and making the massive obelisk appear to hover weightlessly above the void. Source: Grove Art Online; http://www.groveart.com/ (accessed 11/15/2007)
Type of Work
fountain; sculpture (visual work)
Subject
allegorical, Baroque
Rights
© Scott Gilchrist, Archivision, Inc.
Rights Statement
Licensed for educational and research use by the MIT community only
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