Trevi fountain

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The Trevi fountain was built from 1732 to 1762, according to a design by Nicola Salvi, who won the competition for a design of a new fountain, by Clement XII. The fountain is the work of nine sculptors. The history of the fountain begins in 19 BC, with the completion of the Aqua Virgo aqueduct by Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa, during the rule of Augustus. The name of the fountain derives most likely from the word “trivium” referring to the three roads that converged there. A fountain was erected in the piazza in the time of Nicholas V, later to be demolished and replaced by another unfinished project for a new fountain by Bernini [2], which was later again demolished to make way for Salvi’s fountain. Bernini’s fountains and statues profoundly influenced Salvi. The fountain statues can be seen as a sort of Berninian Bachanalia - containing his motives in seemingly disorder, from his many pieces: branches and leaves (Daphne), travertine rocks (Four Rivers), the horse in water (Four Rivers), the Triton sounding the horn (Glaucus), the shell (the Bees Fountain, Glaucus).

Trevi fountain

Salvi was also influenced from Bernini, in his integration of Sculpture and Architecture in the fountain (perhaps Pietro da Cortona’s project for the Trevi also influenced him in that) . In the central group, Oceanus commands the Tritons taming the two horses in the currents, is a display of control over water. The figures of the Tritons are ambivalent as the left hand Triton instead of blowing a conch shell to order the waters to calm down orders the horse frightened by the water surging to calm down, while the other Triton does blow a conch shell but it seems more for announcing the arrival of his master than to quite the flowing waters (for the horse he is holding is rather calm). The figures on the two sides of Oceanus are more relaxed, representing allegories showing the power of waters of the fountain. They are Health, holding a libation cup from which a snake drinks, and Fertility which behind her an overturned urn spills water, which makes plants, grow.

Trevi fountain

Two bass reliefs above, represent the beginnings of the aqueduct. One depicts the story of the maiden who pointed to Roman soldiers the place of the springs which feed it, the other represent Agrippa supervising its construction. The background resembles both a victory arch and a church front. And therefor it could be interpreted that Oceanus is rising on the water (flood) to conquer the church (drown it), taking the place reserved for Jesus in the church. For he is a superior power, having no limit in the material world. This reminds that time’s citizen of Rome of the floods of the Tiber which threaten to drown the churches. Yet since a spiritual force of the church (not a material force) tames the currents, his rise to church is but a temporary one. Leaving the Popes in their seat after the floods. In this main theme of the Church superiority over the force of water (floods) the fountain equals also the Four rivers fountain by Bernini.