Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi

The Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi otherwise Fountain of Four Rivers sited in the Piazza Navona in Rome, Italy. This fountain is the most attractive one from the three masterpieces the Piazza Navona while the other one, standing in the middle was made by Gian Lorenzo Bernini. However it is the only one which was entirely designed by him. It is said that he got the hire because he sent a silver model to the sister-in-law of the pope. It was emblematic of the full of life and impressive effects sought by high Baroque artists. Been raise in 1651 in façade of the church of Sant’ Agnese in Agone and yards on the PamphiliPalace belonging to this fountain’s patron, Innocent X.

Pope Innocentius X gave the order to build to Bernini. The Pope sought to see it before the other people might see it, but Bernini think it was unpleasant and thought it was not what he had expected. He also asks for forgiveness since the waterworks did not work. The pope sought after to see it and when he saw the water fountain, he was astonished; how stunning! When he was gone at the place, unexpectedly the water came into the basin and revelation was completed. He did not have any doubts he had chosen Bernini, rather than Borromini, his rival.

The water fountains are not only a work of art of Bernini’s Baroque Art, but it also explains a bit of the way of life, the knowledge and the rivalry in this century. The fountain is not for not anything called the fountain of the four rivers; so four Gods with their "rivers” can be found here. The four Gods are standing around a rock, on the angle of the fountain which also an obelisk can be seen.

These four statues correspond to the world, as far it was, recognized in that century. Europe is symbolized by the Danube. The horse also situated for this continent. It is assumed to be that a race horse was copy for Bernini, except a few people also declare that it was made by Francesco Cecchini.

Africa is symbolized by the Nile. There is also an animal; the lion. This God too has a palm and a piece of cloth. Definitely thought it was for the unawareness of the Romans; they did not identify where the resource of the Nile be. Depressingly it is because of the church of Borromini, the Nile couldn’t see it.

The God of South-America symbolized by the Rio de la Plata or Plate through his coins and his armadillo, stands for the prosperity of his continent. This statue with the hand lift up to the church is afraid of breakdown of it, so lead again to criticism of Borromini. The fourth and last continent is Asia. The Ganges, the most significant river of it, is the only representative of the continent. There is no animal or myth about it, but this God has an under the influence for rowing. The aim of each god figure has symbolic value.

The stunning success of Bernini is usual for Baroque art. He completed it, as of rivalry and the church which had been built by Borromini. Two years after it is as well a very impressive structure, this is also a masterpiece on the Piazza Navona.