Fountain of Neptune
One of Bologna's most famous landmarks, the Neptune Fountain stands in the square of the same name, opposite the Sala Borsa building. Initially, its location was supposed to be different though. Given its importance, it was planned to be placed in the centre of Piazza Maggiore, which, however, often hosted demonstrations and large events. To preserve it from damage, it was then decided to place it in a more protected location.
Architect Tommaso Laureti
The design of the Neptune Fountain is owed to
Tommaso Laureti, a multifaceted Palermitan architect who also worked in painting, sculpture and engineering during his life. Once he received the commission from the papal viceroy Pier Donato Cesi in 1563, Laureti
designed the whole fountain, including decorations and pipes. The only exception was the statue of the sea god, which was entrusted to the Flemish sculptor
Jean de Boulogne.
When designing the Neptune Fountain, Laureti had been inspired by some Roman fountains, but had not considered one important element. Compared to the water in Rome, the water in Bologna was much more calcareous. For this reason, the cistern that provided the fountain with water never worked at full capacity, and consequently the sprays he designed were only partially successful.
The decoration of the Neptune Fountain
Starting from the top, at the corners of the fountain we can see
four putti symbolising the four great rivers of the world, the Nile, the Ganges, the Danube and the Amazon, holding marine symbols.
Descending towards the base of the structure, we encounter the
Nereids, four perturbing sea nymphs who were criticised in the course of time for their sensuality. At the end of the Council of Trent, at a time of censorship when the sense of morality was changing, the fountain was even considered scandalous. Out of modesty, Bolognese girls apparently avoided passing in front of it.
In the centre of the fountain we find the
coats of arms of the most influential personalities in Bologna at the time, such as Pope Pius IV, with the six balls typical of the Medici insignia, the papal viceroy Pier Donato Cesi, and the Pope's legate Carlo Borromeo, recognisable by the coat of arms on which two horse bites can be seen.
Finally,
four Latin inscriptions stand out at the base of the Neptune Fountain, placed there to recall the origin of the structure: aere publico, meaning built with public money, popoli commodo, built for the benefit of the people of Bologna, fori ornamento, to adorn the piazza, and finally 1563, the year it was built.
The statue of Neptune
A work by Jean de Boulogne, the statue of Neptune is the real star of the fountain. Neptune is the
symbol of papal power, which reigned in Bologna from 1506, the year the city was subjected to Pope Julius II. With his left hand outstretched in front of him, Neptune represents the pontiff in the act of forcefully calming the waters below, a metaphor for the state of unrest the city was in at the time.
In his right hand he holds the trident, a classic attribute of the god of the sea, which in the last century inspired the famous Bolognese car manufacturer
Maserati for its logo.
