Monday 29 March 2010

Fontana delle Tartarughe, Roma


Fontein van de Schildpaden, Roma
oil on canvas board
18 x 24 cm
painted on location - Monday 22 March 2010

SOLD

Four ephebes (adolescent boys) in bronze, cavort around the base of what is unquestionably one of Rome's loveliest fountains. They are gently hoisting four bronze tortoises up to the sparkeling waters above them. This fountain is located in Piazza Mattei, in the Jewish Ghetto quarters of Rome. Built in the 1580s as a wedding present by the Duke of Mattei to his fiancée. Legend has it that it was erected overnight to impress the brides father! The turtles were added many years later by baroque master, Bernini, during a restoration.




A picture of the situation, taken by my colleague, Dimitris. I am set up on the other side behind that lady with a camera.

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