21 - Turtle Fountain, ITALY, 20th century

Turtle Fountain, ITALY, 20th century Model for the Grand Tour of the fountain in Piazza Mattei in Rome, based on a drawing by Giacomo Della PORTA (1533–1602) White marble, black-veined marble, turquoise and African blue marble, gilded bronze The upper basin, flanked by four turtles and four masks, rests on a baluster shaft, which is in turn surrounded by four nude male figures, each standing on a dolphin perched atop a seashell. The ensemble rises above a square base with ornate contours, adorned on each side with a cartouche bearing the names Alexander VII, Oenavitque, Restauruit, and Anno Pontific.IV. Molded, stepped base. H: 43 - W: 61 - D: 61 cm Two turtles need to be reattached. The piece presented here is inspired by the Fontana delle Tartarughe in Piazza Mattei, Rome. It was commissioned in 1581 by the Diputati sopra le Fontane (the officials in charge of the fountains). Giacomo della Porta designed it, while Taddeo Landini carried out part of the work, notably the figures. The turtles, which gave the fountain its name, were added in 1658 by Bernini during a restoration commissioned by Pope Alexander VII. The success of this model attests to the interest in 16th-century Mannerist works that combined fantasy, vitality, and humor—qualities that made them prized souvenirs for travelers on the Grand Tour, allowing them to adorn their cabinets of curiosities. Bibliography: De Rossi, Giovanni Giacomo et al., [Fountains, Gardens, Obelisks, and Columns of Rome], [1648–1678]. Cariatide, INHA Digital Library, NUM 8 RES 2026. Francesca Castria Marchetti, Squares and Fountains of Rome. Mondadori Electa, 2007, p. 72.