Trevi Fountain: History, Art, and Myth in Rome's Iconic Baroque Masterpiece
The Trevi Fountain, located in Rome, stands at 49 meters in width and 26 meters in height, exemplifying both Baroque artistry and the ingenuity of ancient Roman engineering. Its name derives from 'Tre Vie,' reflecting its position at the convergence of three streets. The fountain's origins trace back to 19 BCE, linked to the Aqua Virgo aqueduct constructed under General Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa, which supplied water from the Salone Springs. In the 18th century, Pope Clement XII commissioned Nicola Salvi for its design after previous selections faltered. Completed in 1762 by Giuseppe Pannini, it features Oceanus by Pietro Bracci and allegorical figures by Filippo della Valle. It recycles over 300,000 liters of water, and a 2013 restoration by Fendi cost more than 2 million Euros. Annually, the tradition of tossing coins raises around a million Euros for local charities.
Key facts
- Trevi Fountain is Rome's largest at 49 m wide and 26 m high.
- The name 'Trevi' comes from 'Tre Vie' (three ways).
- The Aqua Virgo aqueduct was built in 19 BCE under Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa.
- The fountain was designed by Nicola Salvi, a poet and philosopher, who won a competition initiated by Pope Clement XII.
- Construction took over three decades and was completed in 1762 by Giuseppe Pannini.
- The central figure Oceanus was sculpted by Pietro Bracci.
- Fendi funded a restoration in 2013 costing over 2 million Euros.
- Coins thrown into the fountain amount to about a million Euros annually, donated to charity.
Entities
Artists
- Nicola Salvi
- Leon Battista Alberti
- Gian Lorenzo Bernini
- Pietro Bracci
- Filippo della Valle
- Giovanni Battista Grossi
- Andrea Bergondi
- Giuseppe Pannini
- Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa
- Pope Clement XII
- Pope Nicholas V
- Pope Urban VIII
- Federico Fellini
- Marcello Mastroianni
- Anita Ekberg
Institutions
- Fendi
- The Criterion Collection
Locations
- Rome
- Italy
- Trevi Fountain
- Aqua Virgo
- Salone Springs