Bernini’s Triton is the only sculpture by the world-famous Italian artist in the Netherlands. He created it as a study for the southernmost fountain on Piazza Navona in Rome. But what makes this sculpture so special? On display in 2.17.
See the real thing?
Want to see the work in real life? Come visit it at the Rijksmuseum! We will be happy to tell you more about it there.
Triton
Bernini’s sculpture depicts a Triton: a mythical sea creature. He stands on a large shell, known as a conch shell. As helpers of Neptune, the sea god, Tritons could control the waters. By blowing on a conch shell, Tritons could summon storms or calm rough seas.
Dolphin
A water-spouting dolphin sits between Triton’s legs. Dolphins are a common motif in Baroque art, often depicted as skilled navigators and protective creatures. However, here the Triton firmly grasps the dolphin by its tail, possibly symbolising divine control over the forces of nature.
Fountain
Bernini created this sculpture in 1653 as a study model to scale for the southernmost fountain, the Fontana del Moro, on Piazza Navona in Rome. Because the Roman population interpreted the facial features as African, the sculpture was quickly nicknamed ‘il Moro’ (the Moor). This is how the fountain got its current name, Fontana del Moro. The marble version in the fountain was executed by Bernini’s assistant, Giovanni Antonio Mari. Riding his shell, the Triton twists his upper body toward the Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi, the central fountain in the square, as if propelled by an imaginary wind - hence his forward-blowing locks


Piazza Navona
Piazza Navona in Rome is home to three famous fountains: the Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi at the center of the square, the Fontana del Nettuno in the north, and the Fontana del Moro in the south, for which this sculpture was made. Bernini designed the Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi in 1651. Later, the pope commissioned him to modernize and enhance the two existing fountains. Ultimately, Bernini worked on two fountains; the northern fountain was only completed in the 19th century, though Bernini had created a design for it.
Gezicht op de Piazza Navona in Rome met de San Agnese in Agone en de Fontana del Moro op de voorgrond, Italië


Bernini
Gian Lorenzo Bernini (1598-1680) is considered the most important sculptor of the Italian Baroque. His influence in Rome is unmissable. In addition to the fountains on Piazza Navona, he designed St. Peter’s Square, the massive bronze baldachin in St. Peter’s Basilica, and the elephant carrying an Egyptian obelisk behind the Pantheon.
Portret van de kunstenaar Giovanni Lorenzo Bernini
Innovator
Bernini was not only a master of marble craftsmanship but also unparalleled in capturing emotion. His figures feature intense facial expressions, and he used light and shadow to heighten drama and suggest movement. By incorporating dynamic and theatrical effects, he became the embodiment of the Baroque style.
Baroque
The Baroque is characterized by its richness in form and emotional expression. The style originated in early 17th-century Rome and spread across much of Europe, lasting until the mid-18th century. It influenced not only sculpture but all art forms.
Terracotta
Bernini’s Triton is made of terracotta, a type of baked clay commonly used for sculptures since the Renaissance. It’s relatively inexpensive and easy to work with when unfired, making it ideal for both designing models and creating finished artworks.
Hidden
For a long time, this sculpture was hidden beneath a thick, dark layer of paint. This obscured its quality until a 2018 restoration removed the paint, revealing Bernini’s characteristic, masterful touch
Twin
In addition to the Triton now on display at the Rijksmuseum, another terracotta model of the sculpture exists at the Kimbell Art Museum in Fort Worth, Texas. This version is slightly more detailed but missing an arm. It was likely made by Bernini as a gift for the pope after the work’s completion.