Fountain of Neptune Rome Italy
by Joan Carroll
Title
Fountain of Neptune Rome Italy
Artist
Joan Carroll
Medium
Photograph - Photography And Digital Art
Description
Late afternoon and the Piazza Navona in Rome Italy was a crowded place. So it was my opportunity to focus on the details of the different fountains gracing the piazza. And to wonder sometimes what the sculptor was thinking. To me, this horse in the Fountain of Neptune (Fontana del Nettuno) looks petrified, like it would just like to bolt, never to be seen again. There is panic in the eyes. I doubt that is what the sculptor was trying to portray! All descriptions say that the statues around the edge of the fountain’s basin were designed their works with the mythological subject of “Nereids with cupids and horses”. I had to look up Nereids. In this context, it definitely did not mean ‘a bristle worm of the polychaete family” but more likely referred to the sea nymphs of Greek mythology (I should have paid better attention in high school). The Nereids are the 50 daughters of Nereus and Doris. They often accompany Poseidon, the god of the sea, and can be friendly and helpful to sailors. One description indicated that this horse is a ‘sea horse’, which fits the theme that Neptune is often pictured with his triumphal chariot being pulled by two sea horses. The Fountain of Neptune has an interesting history, in that it consisted only of the basin for 300 years. It was called the Fountain of the Kettle Makers since it was near a street where the kettle makers all had their businesses. It wasn’t until 1878 that the statues were added by two different sculptors, one who did the central statue and the other these statues around the edge of the basin.
FEATURED PHOTO, Daily Promotion group, 4/13/19
FEATURED PHOTO< The Road To Self Promotions group, 4/9/19
FEATURED PHOTO, Nikon Full Frame Cameras group, 4/8/19
joan carroll, cupid, architecture, marble, traditional, landmark, travel, navona square, water, sculptures, tourism, landmarks, roman
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April 8th, 2019
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Viewed 2,420 Times - Last Visitor from Cambridge, MA on 04/16/2024 at 11:02 AM
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Comments (43)
Lexa Harpell
Fascinating description, oh the richness of their mythology - the statues are relatively young in time. Yes, he does look petrified!
Christopher James
One of your peers nominated this image in the 1000 views Groups nominated images by your fellow artist in the Special Features #13 promotion discussion. Please visit and pass on the love to another artist.
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