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Articles and Products of History
Pope Clement XI and
the Fountain
Pope Clement XI, born Giovanni Francesco Albani, had a love for fountains.
He commissioned many to be built. One such fountain that he had made lays
not very far south of the Tiber Island in Piazza Santa Maria in Cosmedin.
This area itself is crammed with ancient buildings. These buildings span
from Romes ancient days through the Imperial Days to the Middle Ages.
Here you can see the Temple of Vesta, the Arch of Ianus, the Arch of the
Silversmiths, and the Crescenzi House. Here nestled in all this splendor
is the fountain. It sits and blends in with the surrounding architecture
so that it is sometimes over looked. This fountain went without water
for many years. Its lack of water may be one reason why it was overlooked
for ages. This has been rectified in recent years.
This fountain represents classic Baroque art work. Clement XI asked Carlo
Francesco Bizzaccheri to design this fountain and it was completed in
1715. A group of rocks is in the middle of this fountain. This kind of
subject seemed to be a favorite of Pope Clement XI. The lower area of
the fountain is in the shape of a star, which is believed to be giving
honor to the Pope, as an eight sided star it is part of his family crest.
Also, this fountain is designed with two Tritons whose legs mingle. They
have their arms raised and they are holding up a basin, which is shaped
like an oyster shell. On the sides of the oyster shell hangs the Albani
crest.
Clement XI rose to pontificate in November of 1700, and he died March
1721. His library was sold in the 19th century. Part of it was purchased
by the Catholic University of America.
Further Reading
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