 | Rome Talking statues & Fountains Reviews | 1 - 10 of 35 |  |
The mutilated marble bust of a priestess of Isis was the property of Lady Lucrezia d'Alagno. Lady Lucrezia was a Neapolitan who was very much in love with the married King Alfonso di Aragona. She tried to obtain from the Pope the concession of the divorce for the monarch, but her attempt failed. When King Alfonso died, she left Naples, went to Rome and settled in Piazza Venezia. After her death in 1478, the statue was found in a corner of Palazzetto Venezia in Piazza San Marco.
The statue was named Madama Lucrezia after the late Lady, and it soon became a female voice and perspective to the Congress of the Witty (Congresso degli Arguti), often carried a conversation with Marforio.
Madama Lucrezia is located in Piazza San Marco. Leave a Comment
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The statue of Abate Luigi was built in the late Roman era and placed on the side of Palazzo Vidoni. It has been moved around quite a bit since then; it is now standing in Portico delle Cento Colonne, between Piazza Vidoni and Largo di Torre Argentina.
The base of the statue is engraved with this epigraph:
As an ancient Roman here I stand
With Marforio and Pasquino
'Tis the fame of satire I tend
Oh how I had offended, disgraced, and buried
But at last, life is safe and merry.
(Translation by Nathalie)
In actuality, life isn't safe and merry for Abate any more now than it was then: People often come around to steal his head (the head you see in the picture is not his). The cause of this repeated vandalism act is linked partly to his famous role of being a member of the "Congress of the Witty" (Congresso degli Arguti), or the so-called "talking statues" -- together with Pasquino, Marforio, Madama Lucrezia, Facchino, and Babbuino.
Abate Luigi is standing by Corso Vittorio Emanuele II, near the corner of Corso del Rinascimento. Leave a Comment
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During his papacy, Pope Pio IV Medici came up with the idea of semi-public fountains. He granted the right of water to any private citizen who promised to pay for the construction and maintenance of a public fountain. One of the grantees was Alessandro Grandi, who built a fountain in front of his palazzo on Via Paolina. The statue of a reposing satyr was placed over this rectangular Roman thermal basin.
The figure was the cause of much debate amongst the residents. For some, it symbolized San Girolamo; for others, a Latin divinity named Sanco Deo Fidio; many more insisted it was a huge monkey. The last group seemed to win the debate, for the name was eventually changed to the Fountain of the Baboon and the street name became Via del Babbuino in 1581.
It began with an affectionate name, then a voice, and soon after, the Babbuino became a member of the talking statues group, joining Marfoglio, Pasquino, Madama Lucrezia, Abate Luigi, and Facchino in the Congress of the Witty (Congresso degli Arguti).
The statue was moved several times to various locations. In 1957, under persistent pressure from residences, the city finally placed it permanently at the façade of Sant' Anastasio dei Greci church (on Via del Babbuino at Via dei Greci, between Piazza di Spagna and Piazza del Popolo). Leave a Comment
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There are several interpretations for the name of this colossal statue of a river god. In one explanation, it was found in Foro Romano together with the inscription "Mare in Foro". In another, it was found in Mars Fori (Foro di Marte). In the last etymology, the name derived from the Marfoli family's property where it was found. In spite of the diverse origins, all historians agreed that Marforio dates back to the first century BC.
Pope Sisto V Peretti placed Marforio in Palazzo dei Conservatori in Campidoglio before Pope Innocenzo X Pamphilij moved it to the courtyard of Palazzo del Museo Capitolino.
Marforio was the second talking statue in the Congress of the Witty (Congresso degli Arguti). Through their "conversations", he and Pasquino often showed contempt at the rulers who control the people's destiny.
Here are their comments on Pope Clemente XI Albani, who came from the town of Urbino in Marche:
Marforio: Dimmi che fai, Pasquino? (What are you doing, Pasquino?)
Pasquino: Eh, guardo Roma che non vada ad Urbino. (I'm watching Rome so it wouldn't move to Urbino.)
They jabbed at Napoleon Bonaparte, as well:
Marforio: È vero che i francesi sono tutti ladri?
Pasquino: Tutti no, ma buona parte!
(Note: Out of respect to VT members from France, I am not going to translate that particular exchange!)
Marforio is located in the courtyard of Capitoline Museum. Leave a Comment
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Certainly one of the most famous little fountains in Rome, Fountain of the Porter was originally mounted on the wall of Palazzo de' Carolis on Via del Corso and moved around the corner to Via Lata in 1874. Although it was attributed to Michelangelo, some researchers believe it's actually the work of Jacopo Del Conte who lived in the house above the fountain, designed, and built it at the end of the XVI century.
The statue shows a man dressed in the exact manner of a water porter, a character in that epoch who, for a few liras, brought in water from the fountain or the Tiber to the local folks. (This particular trade ended when Pope Gregorio XIII Boncompagni ordered all the antique aqueducts repaired.)
There are many legends behind the model of this water bearer. In one tale, the man was Abbondio Rizio who was famous for his strength as well as his ability to carry and drink a great deal of wine. In another story, he was the German theologist Martin Lutero.
Whoever he was, this man whose face is almost all gone is part of "the talking statues" -- Pasquino, Marforio, Madama Lucrezia, Abate Luigi and Babbuino are the other members - and he is well loved by the Romans who see their spirit and soul reflect in his strength and image. During the XVII century, he was the popular voice through which the Romans spoke against the authorities.
Facchino is located at the corner of Via del Corso and Via Lata. Leave a Comment
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In 1501, Cardinal Oliviero Carafa decided to make Parione district the social center of the city. He took over Palazzo Orsini and ordered Donato Bramante to restore the palace. During this work, a marble statue was discovered in the foundation.
The unidentified statue was dated between the end of the IV century BC and the beginning of the III century BC. It had neither legs nor arms. The face was without a nose and the eyes were ghost-like. Nevertheless, the Cardinal found it appealing. He put it on a marble pedestal with his heraldry and an epigraph that stated, "Erected by Oliviero Carafa in 1501 Year of the Lord".
There were four theories for the name Pasquino. The satirical poet Teofilo Folengo said it was a tavern in the quarter. The poet Antonio Tebaldeo said it was a tailor with an open criticism of the Pope and all the clergy. The social reformer Celio Secondo Curione said it was a witty barber whose shop was used for all debates. Finally, publisher Giacomo Mazzocchi asserted the last explanation: it belonged to an unfortunate gym teacher whose name was repeatedly pasted on the statue by his mischievous students.
Each April 25, Cardinal Oliviero chaired a Latin literary competition in which sonnets were posted on the statue. The residents carried on with the practice of adapting literary poems into satire. Thus was born the term "pasquinata": a short satire exhibited in a public place. (In English, "pasquinade.")
That's how Pasquino became the first talking statue of Rome. He spoke out about the people's dissatisfaction, he denounced injustice, and he assaulted the nepotistic system and the misgovernment of the Church. When Pasquino was tired of talking to himself, other statues appeared on the scene. The Congress of the Witty (Congresso degli Arguti) was formed, with Pasquino always the leader, and Marforio, Abate Luigi, Madamma Lucrezia, Facchino and Babbuino as his cohorts.
Pasquino is located at the corner of Piazza di Pasquino and Palazzo Braschi, on the west side of Piazza Navona. Leave a Comment
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You found the Fountain of the Turtles! Congratulations! It must mean you've been wandering Rome, as it's not on the well beaten path. It was designed by Giacomo della Porta (but Bernini added the turtles). Della Porta was an important sculptor and architect who finished Michelangelo's Dome of St. Peter's.
If you go to see the three famous Carravaggio paintings on the life of St. Matthew at the church San Luigi dei Francesi (St. Louis of the French), you'll be in another della Porta building - well, the facade anyway.
This fountain was completed in 1585 and the water comes from the Acqua Vergine, said to contain the best water of all the aquaducts. It is so charming, it always makes me smile when I see it.
UPDATE, MARCH 5, 2006: VT member Baronedivandastad had been torturing me for months....he knew a secret about the fountain, but he wouldn't tell me until we met for dinner in Rome. We finally met and with great fanfare, he disclosed the secret at a wonderful VT dinner in Testaccio. I think I'll keep the tradition. No telling of the secret unless we have dinner together in Rome!
If you want to look for the Fontana delle Tartarughe, see my directions below, but PROMISE me, you'll wander after you find it. The neighborhood is great for wandering. You're close to the Jewish Ghetto, a perfect excuse to stop for some artichokes fried in the Roman Jewish tradition. Or kosher pizza - yes, really.
The fountain is in Piazza Mattei. Find "Largo Argentina," the excavated Roman site, which is is on the south side of Corso Vittorio Emanuele II (just to the west of Piazza Venezia ). Piazza Mattei is just south of that. Leave a Comment
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I happened upon this Rome site as I strolled in the Rome neighborhood where once lived. Nestled off Via Labicana just up the hill from the Colosseum on Via Pietro Verri (to your left walking up from the Colosseum), you will find the Piazza Isidre courtyard, steps, ruins and fountain with a detailed descriptive plaque. If you turn left from Via Labicana onto Via Pietro Verri it is right there - no walking, no searching. Many people walk up Labicana from the Colosseum to Via Merulana as two great basilicas are there - Santa Maria Maggiore at one end and San Giovanni at the other. The head and form of the statue Isidre is on display in the Capitolini Museum. There is also a charming restaurant right there at the Piazza - the Temple Isidre cafe. This Piazza was deserted on Saturday around noon, even though tourists were making their way up and down Via Labicana.
Legend of Iside - She was the spouse and sister of Osiride - they reigned in Egypt until Osiride was murdered by his brother. Iside searched for the coffin of Osiride which had been cast into the Nile. When she recovered the coffin, the culprit tore the body into 14 pieces and cast it into the sea. Iside's search of the sea recovered all the pieces of Osiride's body except one. She restored the life partially and Osiride continued to reign in the afterlife. Other Contact: Directions from Colosseum above
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I've been wanting to photograph these four fountains for over a year and they were so dirty you couldn't see any detail. Well, it was worth the wait - here they are, clean and leisurely lounging at one of Rome's busiest intersections. You could really become a statistic trying to photography these guys from the street!
I pass them often as I walk from the top of Piazza Spagna at Trinia dei Monti to Santa Maria Maggiore and am just delighted today (August 27, 2006) to see them looking so spiffy - they even all look so much more pleased with themselves.
These Four Fountains represent the rivers Arno and Tiber and the Goddesses Juno and Diana:
Photo 1. River ARNO
Photo 2. Goddess JUNO
Photo 3. River TIBER
Photo 4. Goddess DIANA
Arno graces the complex facade of Borromini's Church San Carlo - dubbed San Carlino since they say the entire church is no larger than a pillar in Saint Peter's. The upper part was built after Borromini had already died.
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In their dual roles as both Pope and King, they were exposed to much criticism. This criticism was soon voiced by the Romans through very short compositions in verse ridiculing their behaviour and opposing their policies.
Nicholas V (1447-55) was one of the first popes whose action, the bloody repression of a conspiracy, was sharply criticized in a short poem.
Da quando è Niccolò papa e assassino,
abbonda a Roma il sangue e scarso è il vino.
Since Nicholas became pope and murderer,
blood is abundant in Rome while there is lack of wine.
The anonymous authors of the poems were often very close to the pope and had direct knowledge of confidential information.
In 1501 Cardinal Oliviero Carafa erected a small square near Piazza Navona and placed the torso of a statue representing Menelaus with the body of Patroclus. Each year on April 25 the Cardinal chaired a sort of Latin literary competition where poems were posted on the statue. Occasionally this happened outside the competition period as well. In this way Pasquino (the name given to the statue) became the first talking statue of Rome and it is still used from time to time for posting messages and claims. The little square is named after him Piazza di Pasquino and very fittingly the word "pasquinata" (pasquinade) is the word used for a short satire exhibited in a public place.
Pasquino soon became very popular and especially during the conclaves every night new gossips were posted to influence the election of the new pope. Adrianus VI (1522-23) considered throwing Pasquino into the Tiber and other popes had similar thoughts, but they feared to fall into ridicule by punishing a statue. Severe laws however were issued to stop the practice and Pasquino was put under surveillance. This led to the undesired result of multiplying the talking statues of Rome. (see tip re Marforio)
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