Trevi Fountain_01
The Trevi Fountain is the largest Baroque fountain in Rome and is one of the most famous monuments in the city. The fountain marks the point of a long canal called “Acqua Vergine,” which was named by Agrippa in 19 BC. The present fountain’s façade depicts the scene of the young virgin revealing a source of water to Roman soldiers. In 1453, Pope Nicholas V mended the aqueduct and built a basin for the water. The fountain underwent different repairs over the years. In 1629, Pope Urban VIII asked Bernini to sketch renovations, but his project was eventually torn down when the Pope died. In 1732, Pope Clement XII commissioned Nicola Salvi to complete a fountain at the end of the canal. Pietro Bacci’s Oceanus, meaning god of water, was set in the central niche in 1762 when the Trevi Fountain was finally finished. The two figures flanking the ocean are Salubrity, who holds a cup from which a snake drinks, and Abundance, who spills water from a jug. Tritons stand below the Ocean and tame wild seahorses. The Trevi Fountain’s large size seems astonishing within the small piazza. However, it maintains a lovely symmetrical balance with the tritons and horses in the front and the towering columns in the background. These giant Corinthian pilasters hold up the Palazzo Poli, which is the backdrop for the fountain. I chose to write about the Trevi Fountain because it is such a monumental and beautiful landmark of Rome. Tourists always flock here to toss in their coins, hoping to return soon to the eternal city.
Emily Ostrom, Survey of Art and Architecture, University of Florida
Trevi Fountain_02
In contrast to the rest of the city of Rome, the Trevi Fountain is fairly new. For many decades, several Popes wanted to build a fountain on this site and many artists and architects, including Bernini, submitted their designs to the Popes. Finally, in 1732 Pope Clement XII approved the design by Nicola Salvi. The fountain took thirty years to build and features Neptune and the sea. On the rocks below Neptune there are two horses, one calm and the other feisty. These horses are meant to depict the changing moods of the sea. The constantly moving and gushing water represents the turbulence of the ocean. The two smaller statues directly to the left and right of Neptune represent Abundance and Health. These statues were both created by Filippo Valle. The four statutes on the top portion of the fountain all show the many beneficial and rejuvenating roles that water plays in the different seasons. Different artists created all four of these figures. Many tourists toss a coin over their shoulders into the fountain with the hope of one day returning to the “eternal city” of Rome. Now one knows exactly how this tradition started, but the 1954 movie Three Coins in the Fountain gave the practice of throwing a coin into the fountain its incredible fame. I threw a coin into the Trevi Fountain, hoping to return to Rome someday because I have fallen in love with the city. The culture, the language, the food, and the history are fascinating and the Trevi Fountain is one of my favorite sites to see, especially at night when the fountain is lit up and looks almost mystical.
Katherine Latta, Survey of Art and Architecture, University of Florida
Trevi Fountain_02
The Trevi Fountain stands 85 feet high and 65 feet wide, and is the largest Baroque fountain in the city of Rome. Tre Vie means three roads, which is where the fountain meets, which marks the terminal point of the “modern” aqueducts that supplied water to ancient Rome. The Gothic besiegers in 537/38 broke the aqueducts, which caused Medieval Romans to draw water from the Tiber River, which was also used as a sewer. The most recent restoration of the Trevi Fountain was done in 1998, the stonework was scrubbed, and the fountain was provided with new recalculating pumps. There is a tradition at the fountain that if you throw a coin in, you are sure to return back to Rome. However if you throw two coins in, it will lead to new romance, but three coins will lead to marriage, or divorce – so be careful what you wish for, it may just come true. I think that the Trevi Fountain was one of the most beautiful fountains I have ever seen. There is so much detail that went into the back wall of that fountain, and so many little things that you really need to just sit and look for. I would be able to sit at the Trevi Fountain for hours. I think it is the most relaxing and peaceful thing to sit and watch a magnificent fountain and to listen to the water running, - and it is very beautiful at night when it’s all light up, quite romantic.
Hillary Woodrow, Survey of Art and Architecture, Berkeley College
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