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Sea Horse Fountain
One of the characteristic fountains at Villa Borghese in Rome
The Fountain of the Sea Horses is one of the characteristic fountains of Villa Borghese in Rome. It is located near the pond in the heart of the park. The fountain consists of four sea horses, carved in marble, spitting water into a large circular basin. This fountain, along with other works of art and architectural structures, contributes to making Villa Borghese one of the most iconic and visited parks in the city of Rome.
The Fountain was built in 1791, at the behest of Marcantonio IV Borghese, to replace the previous Mascherone Fountain
The fountain was designed by painter Cristoforo Unterperger and made by sculptor Vincenzo Pacetti. It was placed at the end of the eighteenth century in place of the Mascherone or Vela fountain, which was destroyed during the park's reconstruction.
It seems that the sculptor Pacetti had received an ancient cameo from Prince Borghese to be taken as a reference in the design of the fountain. The execution of the individual parts was divided among several artists in particular, the horses are by Luigi Salimei, except for the tails and wings, sculpted by Antonio Isopi, who also made the central support. The basin is by Giovanni Antonio Berté.
The Fountain consists of a circular basin dug into the ground. Emerging from the center of the basin are four fish-bodied horses whose heads and large fins support a smaller basin.
In the center of this second basin is a double chalice decorated with acanthus leaves, from which gushes water that then descends in a triple cascade into the large basin. More water gushes out between the horses' legs.
Sea Horse Fountain
Author
Category Villa Borghese a Roma
Turtle Fountain
Trevi Fountain
Triton Fountain in Rome
Barcaccia Fountain (Fountain of the Boat)
