Fountain of the Tortoises
Maker
Fonderia Chiurazzi
(Italian, founded 1870)
Dateearly 20th century
CultureItalian
MediumMarble and bronze
ClassificationSculpture
Provenancewith John Ringling; bequest of John Ringling to The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art, 1936
Credit LineBequest of John Ringling, 1936
Object numberSN11150.4
Located in Piazza Mattei at the entrance to the former Jewish Ghetto of Rome, the 'Fontana delle tartarughe' ('Fountain of the Tortoises'), so named for the four bronze animals affixed to the rim of the upper basin, was and remains one of the most admired fountains of the Italian Renaissance. The traditionally-held title of 'Fountain of the Tortoises' is a misnomer; the anatomy of the eponymous creatures acutally identifies them as freshwater European pond turtles. Erected in a period of grand urban renewal, the fountain was designed by architect Giacomo della Porta (1532-1602) and features four bronze ephebes (young men) and four dolphins created by sculptor Taddeo Landini (ca. 1550-1596). Unlike most of the Roman public fountains created around the same time, the 'Fountain of the Tortoises' betrays more of an interest in the figures than in the architectural design. The turtles were not added until the middle of the 17th century and have been variously attributed to Andrea Sacchi (1599-1661) or Gian Lorenzo Bernini (1598-1680).
On View
On viewLocation
- Museum of Art, Courtyard
