Fountain of the Four Rivers

fountain by Bernini

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June 26, 2026

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The Fountain of the Four Rivers, located in Rome's Piazza Navona, is a masterpiece by the Baroque artist Gian Lorenzo Bernini. Commissioned by Pope Innocent X, the fountain represents four major rivers known at the time: the Nile (Africa), Ganges (Asia), Danube (Europe), and Río de la Plata (Americas). Each river is depicted by an allegorical figure, along with local flora and fauna, situated around a central obelisk topped with a dove, a symbol of the Pope's family. This dynamic sculpture served as a political statement of papal power and provided a public water source.12

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Gian Lorenzo Bernini
Patronage of Innocent X and Alexander VII
The Fountain of the Four Rivers in Rome’s Piazza Navona (1648–51) supports an ancient Egyptian obelisk over a hollowed-out rock, surmounted by four marble figures symbolizing four major rivers of the world. This fountain is one of his most spectacular works.
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The Fountain of the Four Rivers in Rome’s Piazza Navona (1648–51) supports an ancient Egyptian obelisk over a hollowed-out rock, surmounted by four marble figures symbolizing four major rivers of the world. This fountain is one of his most spectacular works.
Read More