Bernini, Elephant and Obelisk, 1667

Patron: Pope Alexander VII, Fabio Chigi

Bernini, Fountain of the Four Rivers, 1651

Patron: Pope Innocent X

The Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi or "Fountain of the Four Rivers" is a fountain in Rome, Italy, located in the urban square of the Piazza Navona. It was designed in 1651 by Gian Lorenzo Bernini for Pope Innocent X whose family palace, the Palazzo Pamphili, faced onto the piazza as did the church of Sant'Agnese in Agone of which Innocent was the sponsor.

The base of the fountain is a basin from the centre of which travertine rocks rise to support four river gods and above them, an ancient Egyptian obelisk surmounted with the Pamphili family emblem of a dove with an olive twig. Collectively, they represent four major rivers of the four continents through which papal authority had spread: the Nile representing Africa, the Danube representing Europe, the Ganges representing Asia, and the Platte representing the Americas.

Rainaldi, Palazzo Pamphili, 1650

In 1644, Cardinal Giambattista Pamphilj of the powerful Pamphilj family, who already owned a palace between the Piazza Navona and the Via Pasquino, became Pope Innocent X. With this election came the desire for a larger more magnificent building to reflect his family’s increased prestige. Further land was bought, the architect Girolamo Rainaldi received the commission and construction began in 1646.

Girolamo Rainaldi, Carlo Rainaldi, and Borromini, facade of Church of Sant' Agnese in Agone, 1652-1657

Patron: Innocent X Pamphili

Borromini, exterior and plan of Sant' Ivo alla Sapienza, 1642 to early 1660s

Patrons: Archiginnasio (University) under Urban VIII Barberini, Innocent X Pamphili, Alexander VII Chigi

Domenico Fontana, Moses Fountain, 1587-90

Patron: Sixtus V

Bernini, Cornaro Chapel, Church of Santa Maria della Vittoria 1630s

Patron: Cardinal Federico Cornaro

Carlo Maderno, Facade of Santa Susanna, 1603

Patron: Cardinal Rusticucci

Borromini, San Carlo alle Quattro Fontane (San Carlino), 1638-77

Patrons: Discalced Trinitarians

Bernini, St. Andrea al Quirinale, 1658-76

Patron: Cardinal Camillo Pamphili and Jesuit Order

Various Artists, Piazza del Quirinale, Palazzo del Quirinale and Fountain of the Dioscuri (Castor and Polloux) 15th to 19th centuries

Patrons: Paul V Borghese, Urban VIII Barberini, Innocent X Pamphili and above all, Alexander Chigi

Flaminio Ponzio, Fontana Paola, 1620s

Patron: Paul V Borghese

Giovan Battista Soria, Facade of San Crisogono, 1626

Patron: Cardinal Scipione Borghese

Bernini, Raimondi Chapel, San Pietro in Montorio, 1630s

Patron: Cardinal Raimondi

Bernini, Ludovica Albertoni, Albertoni-Altieri Chapel, San Francesco a Ripa, 1670s

Patron: Cardinal Albertoni

Stefano Maderno, Santa Cecilia, Basilica of Santa Cecili, 1600

Patron: Cardinal Sfondrati

Bernini, Baldaquin-Altar-Tomb of St. Peter, 1624-33

Patron: Urban VIII Barberini

Bernini and other artists, Crossing of St. Peters with Statues of St. Longinus, St. Andrew, St. Helen, and St. Veronica, 1629-40

Patron: Urban VII Barberini

Bernini, Cathedra Petri, 1657-66

Patron: Alexander VII Chigi

Bernini, Tomb of Urban VII Barberini, 1628-47

Patron: Urabn VII Barberini

Bernini, Tomb of Alexander VII, 1671-78

Patron: Alexander VII Chigi

Bernini, Piazza San Pietro, 1656-67

Patron: Alexander VII Chigi

Advisor: Lucas Holstein, Virgilio Spada

Domenica Fontana, Lateran Palace, late 1580s

Patron: Sixtus V

Alessandro Galilei, St. John the Lataran Facade, 1732-36

Patron: Clement XII Corsini

Giovanni Antonio de Rossi, Lancellotti Chapel, 1675

Patron: Pope Clement XII Corsini

Borromini, Tombs at St. John the Lateran, 1650-60s

Patron: Innocent X and Alexander VII

Borromini, Nave of St. John the Lataran, 1650s

Patron: Pope Innocent X Pamphili

Domenico Fontana, Benediction Loggia, late 1580s

Patron: Sistus V

Ferdinando Fuga, Santa Maria Maggiore Facade, 1740s

Patron: Clement XI and XII

Francesco De Sanctis, Spanish Steps, 1723-26

Patron: Innocent XII (based on projects by Bernini and sponsored by French king)

Bernini (Pietro and Gian Lorenzo), Baracaccia Fountain, 1629

Patron: Urban VIII Barberini

Borromini, Sant'Andrea delle Fratte, 1653-65

Patron: del Bufalo

Nicola Salvi, Trevi Fountain, 1732-1760

Patron: Clement XII Corsini