Turtle Fountain Rome Italy

Title

Turtle Fountain Rome Italy

Artist

Joan Carroll

Medium

Photograph - Photography And Digital Art

Description

Judging by the crowds, everyone who visits Rome Italy goes to the Trevi Fountain, the Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi (Fountain of the Four Rivers), and the Fontana della Barcaccia (Boat Fountain) at the Spanish Steps. Although the Fontana delle Tartarughe (Turtle Fountain) is listed as one of the most famous and iconic fountains in Rome, the crowds are much less. Still, it’s difficult to get a photo of the fountain without some tour group in the background! I just waited and waited for the background to be clear of people and cars, and wondered if there was someone on the other side of the fountain waiting and waiting also, hoping that I would go away! But this waiting gave me time to study the fountain. I found the delicate hand positions of the ephebes (adolescent males) very appealing, as was the realism of the turtles and the sweetness of the helping gestures of the ephebes to the small creatures. The fountain was built between 1580 and 1588, but the turtles weren’t added until 1658-9. Despite its artistic appeal, its main function was to supply drinking water to the Roman population. It was one of 18 fountains build in the 16th century after the restoration of one of the Roman aqueducts. A rich patron paid for its installation…in front of his own house! Originally it seems there were dolphins around the edge of the top basin and they were intended to spout water. However, since fountains in Rome work due to gravity and the difference in height of the fountain and its water source was small, the flow was feeble. So the dolphins were removed leaving only an upward jet of water in the center of the basin. While this solved the water pressure problem, it left an artistic problem: the four ephebes were left holding….nothing! So the turtles were added between 1658-9 to balance the composition, and are usually attributed to Bernini.

FEATURED PHOTO, Fountains of the World in Color group, 2/2/23

FEATURED PHOTO, Italia The Best of Italy group, 9/20/21

FEATURED PHOTO, Fountains of The World in Color group, 4/5/21

FEATURED PHOTO, The Weekenders group, 8/2/19

FEATURED PHOTO, New FAA Uploads group, 5/21/19

FEATURED PHOTO, The Niche group, 5/7/19

FEATURED PHOTO, Arts Fantastic World group, 4/27/19

FEATURED PHOTO, ART - It Is Good For You group, 4/25/19

FEATURED PHOTO, NATURE LANDMARKS LANDSCAPES WILDLIFE group, 4/19/19

FEATURED PHOTO, Travel Art group, 4/15/19

FEATURED PHOTO, Pin Me - Daily group, 4/11/19

FEATURED PHOTO, USA Photographers Only group, 4/8/19

FEATURED PHOTO, Water Forms group, 4/7/19

Joan carroll, animal, tortoise, fountain of tortoises, travel, tourist attraction, piazza mattei, tourism, statue

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April 7th, 2019

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