The Neptune Water Fountain in Italy

The Neptune water fountain is located in the Piazza Navona in Rome. The fountain was originally built in 1574, at the same time as neighboring fountains were created in this same public square. This individual fountain, however, was never accorded the same attention to detail as the other fountains. For 300 years, it sat without ornamentation, until the Rome City Authorities took it upon themselves to hold a competition to find an artist to complete it.

On June 11, 1873, the Authorities began advertising for the competition. The fountain was known as the "Calderari." The competition would award a prize of 5000 lire for the best design. The contest rules stated that artists needed to submit a design with a central statue that would harmonize well with the already existing Fountain of the Moor in the same square. Any additional groupings in the design should also keep this in mind. The famous Fountain of the Moor contains a central figure of an Ethiopian man surrounded by very beautifully executed Triton statues.

Ten artists entered the water fountain competition, although only the names of seven have survived in the records. Of these seven, the history of this fountain became involved with three: Maioli, Zappala and Della Bitta. All were well known water fountain artists of their time. By October 1 or 1873, the committee had decided on an artist… Luigi Maioli from Ravenna.

The decision was unanimous. The other contestants protested, accusing the committee of being biased and that the competition had been unfair. In reaction to the uproar, the City Authorities appointed a separate committee to look at the water fountain issue. More artists were invited to participate from all over Italy, including one from Naples, one from Tuscany and one from Milan.

On February 4, 1874, the new committee liked Zappala's design best, followed by Della Bitta's, and finally, Maioli's. Della Bitta was to design the central figure of the new Neptune fountain, while Zappala would design eight smaller groupings that would be placed around the central figure.

Both Zappala and Della Bitta were awarded a portion of the prize money, and they were required to create life-size clay models to see how they would look in the fountain. Their efforts are now what we see in the Neptune Fountain when we visit Rome.

The center statue is of Neptune, standing atop a rock as he fights a sea monster. Near him at the edge of the fountain sits two Naiads, one on each side. One is smiling as she wraps herself around a swan that is gushing water out its mouth, while the other is scowling as she hangs onto the tail of another sea monster. Water sprays from her mouth. Two seahorses are placed in between. One is meekly being led by a happy child while the other is wild, trying to rid itself of its rider. Several other smaller statues of imps adorn the fountain. One is playing with a crab, one has a shell, one is fighting with a sea monster and another is trying to climb onto a dolphin.

These works were completed in 1878, creating the statue many visit today.