CA0460 Small Grand Tour Souvenir of the Fontana delle Tartarughe

Very rare small 19th century Grand Tour bronze model of the late Italian Renaissance Fontana delle Tartarughe (The Turtle Fountain) located in the Piazza Mattei, Rome. Built between 1580 and 1588 by the architect Giacomo della Porta and the sculptor Taddeo Landini, in Rome it features statues of four ephebes riding dolphins on shells around a central fountain. Originally designed to have 4 additional dolphins, low water pressure eventually meant they were removed and replaced by turtles attributed to Bernini in 1658. Only small Grand Tour example of this fountain I have seen. Presented on the original siena marble block base. Rome circa 1850.

H 11.5cm x W 11.5cm x D 11.5cm