Sunday, November 16, 2014

Rome's Triton Fountain: Arms of Pope Urban VIII

Bernini's fine Triton Fountain (1637) is set in a quadrilobe pool.  Four dolphins support a huge conch bearing the heraldic arms of Urban VIII Barberini, in which the mighty Triton blows water through a conch trumpet.  Here you can see the arms in a blaze of afternoon sun. 

The fountain is situated in the center of Piazza Barberini, at the top of the busy Via del Tritone.  To the right is the grand palace of the Barberini family, now also the National Gallery of Ancient Art.  Leading from the far-left end of the square is the Via Vittorio Veneto, one of Rome's most famous streets. 

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