History and Iconography of the Fountain of the Four Rivers

Among Gian Lorenzo Bernini’s (1598–1680) most celebrated works, the Fountain of the Four Rivers was commissioned by Pope Innocent X Pamphili (1574–1655) to embellish Piazza Navona, built on the site of the ancient Stadium of Domitian and surrounded by buildings linked to the papal family.

In 1645, the Pope had already entrusted Francesco Borromini with designing a new conduit to bring the Acqua Vergine to the square. Despite drawings presented by other major artists, Bernini won the commission thanks to a model—perhaps in silver—that captured the Pope’s favor.

The fountain was built between 1648 and 1651 with the assistance of talented sculptors such as Antonio Raggi, Claude Poussin, Giacomo Antonio Fancelli, and Francesco Baratta.

The composition develops around an elliptical basin, at the center of which rises a perforated travertine rock supporting a granite Egyptian obelisk found in the Circus of Maxentius along the Via Appia.

At the corners of the rock are the four river gods, representing the continents known at the time:
- The Danube (Europe), turned toward the obelisk and the papal coat of arms, symbolizing papal power extending over Europe;
- The Ganges (Asia), holding an oar, alludes to the navigability of its waters;
- The Nile (Africa), whose head is veiled, since its sources were then unknown;
- The Río de la Plata (America), accompanied by coins symbolizing the wealth of the New World, raises its arm to shield itself from the light of Christian faith newly spreading across the continent.

The rock is animated by animals and plants — the serpent, horse, lion, armadillo, palm tree, and prickly pear — infusing the scene with natural vitality.
At the center, the Pamphili coat of arms and the bronze dove atop the obelisk celebrate the commissioning pope.

Water, the true protagonist, flows at the base of the obelisk and through the rock’s crevices, creating luminous and dynamic effects that make the composition scenographic and vibrant.
A masterpiece of Roman Baroque art, the fountain perfectly fuses sculpture and architecture, transforming Piazza Navona into one of Rome’s most fascinating urban theatres.