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<p align="center"><span style="text-decoration: underline">The Fountain of Four Rivers</span></p>
            In Rome, Italy there are a lot of historical artifacts but one of them that stands out the most, and his one of the most creative sculptures to see would have to be “The Fountain of Four Rivers” It is located in the square of Piazza Novana. In my opinion it is something that is worth going to see if you are in that part of the world, and now knowing a little of the history behind it; it just makes it seem even more thrilling when looking at it. Needless to say I do think that this wonderful piece of art (The Fountain of Four Rivers) should be preserved solely on beauty of the work, the way the “River Gods” are worked into the sculpture.<!--more-->

            The artist that is known for doing this sculpture is Gian Lorenzo Bernini; he started this sculpture in 1648 and didn’t have it finished until 1651. Bernini did many different works before this one but this would have to be one of his best works. Pope Innocent X project, he selected Bernini to do this fountain for him. The fountain was placed in the location it is at because the square of “Piazza Novana use to be an old circus town and that use to be a big stadium” (Martha Bakerjian). So the Pope replaced the old stadium by building three water fountains.

            The Fountain of Four Rivers is a very detailed one. There is a reason why they call it “The Fountain of Four Rivers” it was supposed to represent four rivers in the four major continents that had been discovered at that time, and over top of each of the rivers there is a “River God” and that river god is suppose to represent the continent. It has the Nile River and the River God for the river has a towel covering his head due to “The source of the river was unknown (at least by Europeans)” (Mary Ann Sullivan). The Ganges of Poussin River representing the Asians. The River God is “large and relaxed holding an oar to represent the navigability of the river” (nstormberg). The Rio della Plata which to suppose to represent the Americas, the river god that is supposed to represent the Americans is black and reaching towards the gold in the water. The last river on the fountain is the Danube of Raggi which is to represent the Europeans. The River God is “reaching back and touches the paper crest, because it is the closest of the rivers to Rome” (nstormberg).  Each of the River Gods have animals that are either underneath them or by them in some way that are there to represent the creatures in those areas.

The work of Bernini is typical of this time frame, for a couple of reasons. For instance there are other fountains that were done at the time or a little later. There is actually one that is done right next to Bernini’s. It is the “Fontana del Moro” it was done by Giacomo della Porto and was built in 1575. It was also ordered to be constructed by Pope Innocent X.

Both fountains are done very nicely and both were put there for their own special reasons. They were both as you already know handpicked to be put there by the Pope himself. Another thing that is also funny in comparison to them both is that the people in the cities that they both were built in (cause the Fontana del Moro was moved to Piazza Novana) had at first a negative feeling towards it then both were happy that it was built afterwards. They both have a lot of detail behind them and with the great amounts of detail those parts are added for a direct reason. They both have different animals for representation of different meanings.

            The work is unusual for the time due to this was the first time a fountain was being built to represent the four main continents by the major rivers that flow through them. Putting “River Gods” on them was something that was not ordinary of this time due to majority of the people were Christian in some manner or practicing something of religious values and the era was passed the time of having a God for every little things possible. The body positions are unique too “Traditionally, river gods were depicted in a lounging-position; they were hardly ever seen doing anything. In Bernini’s fountain, however, their twists, turns, and muscular contractions simulate the motions of the rivers they personify.”(Piazza Novana and Bernini’s Four Rivers Fountain).  Something that I found a little unique in general, was that it was common that if you were to ask to do a piece of art in some manner by the Pope then you were to incorporate something religious into your works. Bernini I think went a little outside the box he threw something religious into Bernini put the Popes shield into part of the fountain.  

            At this start of the fountain the people living in the area did not like the idea of it being built. There was no money to pay for it so the people of the city had a tax put on their bread. The protesters wrote on paper and stuck them to the wall stating “We do not want obelisks or fountains, bread is what we want.” (nstormberg) The dislike of the fountain only went on for a few years with a lot of protesters and after it was revealed in 1651 majority of the protesters was amazed by the fountain (nstormberg). 

            The people today have a different affection towards the fountain from when it was being built. Over the years the fountain had been slowly falling apart and city of Rome has restored the fountain; back in 2008. “It was a two year ordeal but everything was clean and polished to make it look like it was bran new since not only to the people like looking at the fountain the pigeons also tend to like to rest on it”( Phoebe Natanson). I do believe partially the small difference with some of the people who may not have liked the fountain right after it was built compared to the ones who adore it now would probably have to be the ones now didn’t have to pay for the structure to be built by being heavily taxed in their bread. The people of the area must have some affection towards it if they own a store of some sort due to it must me a great revenue due to the amount of tourism that walks through on a daily bases.

                The reactions between the time of when it was being built and have to pay for it to the time frame after it when people have traveled from all over the world to look see it. If I had to compare it to something from this era then I would have to say the way the Americans felt about the Statue of Liberty that sits in New York. At first none of the Americans wanted to take the gift or pay for the gift from the French, but now it is a large touristic attraction for this country and the state of New York, not only that but if you were to come into this country on a ship and try to get citizenship (well use to be like this) you would have to go right by the Statue. It’s sort of like now she is the gate that says hello and goodbye to you as you come and go from her land at least that is my input on it.

To compare this piece of work to something of its time well I have looked and I haven’t found anything that could fit the qualifications to be able to have the privileged to be compared to the Fountain of Four Rivers, but since I must chose one I went with “The Fountain of Neptune” it was done by Giacomo della Porta in 1576. It is another marvelous piece as well and sits near Bernini’s Fountain of Four Rivers and the Sant’Anges in Agone Church. It is a very well done fountain that doesn’t get as much attention I believe as the Fountain of Four Rivers does cause well it is kind of tucked into a corner and no in the center of the area like the Four Rivers Fountain is.  

            I believe that this work it magnificent, I love the creativity in it. Bernini did a sweet job by constructing the “River Gods” and making them each in a unique way to be able to represent the river and the country it runs in. I also like the fact that he put animals in the sculpture to help you get a better understanding on which continent he is trying to represent. One of the history things I love is that the Pope wanted it built so he could have something that showed the four major continents and that they are connected. When looking at how it was paid for to be built I kind of see it as how it is now. We (the people) have to pay in taxes to have things be built like when the city or government wants to build something new they choose to tax the people of the area or country in order to find the funds to be able to pay for it.

I think that the Fountain of the Four Rivers should be preserved for a multiple reasons. That this fountain represents that no matter how far apart we may live that we are all the same and are connected somehow in this world. The history of this fountain on where it is located and the way it was paid for. How it was not really popular at the construction part of it but after it was loved by just about everyone then and everyone now. Another reason it should be preserved is that the fountain is so structurally sound and that through the reconstruction and cleaning back in 2006-2008 that nothing was really wrong or needed any fixing with the fountain except that the outer layer of it was damaged a little due to the fact of pigeon landing and pooping on it.

            I also think another good example that would help give my reasoning why I think it should be preserved is that there is no video or picture that is only that you can find of it being empty of people around looking at the fountain. The only time you can go and be able to get close to the fountain is early in the morning or during the middle of the night. 

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<p align="center"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">Bibliography</span></strong></p>

<ol>
	<li>Art History Website Association, by Mary Ann Sullivan, 26 September 2011,</li>
	<li><a href="http://www.bluffton.edu/~sullivanm/4rivers/4rivers.html">http://www.bluffton.edu/~sullivanm/4rivers/4rivers.html</a></li>
	<li>Art History Archives, Piazza Navona and Bernini’s Four Rivers Fountain, by Nina Miller, posted September 29, 2005 <a href="http://honorsaharchive.blogspot.com/2005/09/ppiazza-navona-and-berninis-four-rivers.html">http://honorsaharchive.blogspot.com/2005/09/ppiazza-navona-and-berninis-four-rivers.html</a></li>
	<li> ABC News, Bernini's Famous Fountain Gets a Face-Lift, by Phoebe Natanson, posted December 10, 2008 <a href="http://abcnews.go.com/International/story?id=6431402&amp;page=1">http://abcnews.go.com/International/story?id=6431402&amp;page=1</a></li>
	<li>Web Gallery of Art, October 10, 2011, <a href="http://www.wga.hu/frames-e.html?/bio/b/bernini/gianlore/biograph.html">http://www.wga.hu/frames-e.html?/bio/b/bernini/gianlore/biograph.html</a></li>
	<li>Walking Tour of Piazza Novana in Rome, by Martha Bakerjian, About.com Guide, 10<sup>th</sup> October 2011; <a href="http://goitaly.about.com/od/romeitaly/ss/piazzanavona.htm">http://goitaly.about.com/od/romeitaly/ss/piazzanavona.htm</a></li>
	<li>Bernini-“Fountain dei Quattro Fuimi” or “Fountain of 4 Rivers”; by nstromberg; 24, February 2011 <a href="http://maitaly.wordpress.com/2011/02/24/bernini-fontana-dei-quattro-fiumi-or-fountain-of-4-rivers/">http://maitaly.wordpress.com/2011/02/24/bernini-fontana-dei-quattro-fiumi-or-fountain-of-4-rivers/</a></li>
</ol>