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The 4 River Fountain

WISH YOU ALL A BEAUTIFUL WEEKEND!

 

 

In Piazza Navona, commissioned by Pope Innocent X, is the Fountain of the four rivers ( Fontana dei fiumi ). Begun in 1648, Bernini's travertine fountain includes rocks,animals, and four enormous marble figures personifying the four continents.

The Danube adjusts Innocent X's coat of arms, the Rio della Plata holds up his hand to shield himself from the supposedly unstable church of sant' Agnese ( based on a false claim that Bernini did not trust the workmanship of the rival architect, Borromini ), the Nile covers his head beacsue its source was unknown, and the Ganges steers the ship of the Church.

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Uploaded on February 5, 2012
Taken on March 7, 2009