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Dolphin Fountain

The Dolphin Fountain was built in 1526, at the same time as the development of Via Pignolo in Bergamo. The street, formed in the 16th century alongside the Venetian walls, became one of the city’s most distinctive areas, lined with notable 16th-century palaces. The fountain stood at the crossroads connecting the old Pelabrocco and Cornasello areas, which led via Via Osmano toward the hill of Sant’Agostino. It was supplied by a Roman-origin aqueduct known as Prato Baglioni, named after its former owner and corresponding to the Colle Aperto area. The work is by an unknown author and was probably commissioned by one of the noble families already owning the nearby palaces in the early 16th century.

Dolphin Fountain with Triton, a stone sculpture of a bearded man holding a fish in a cobblestone square.
The Dolphin Fountain with Triton stands in an Italian square, with nearby historic buildings in the background.
April 2015 · CC BY-SA 3.0
Dolphin Fountain with a bearded Triton sculpture on a pillar above a carved face spout.
The Dolphin Fountain features a Triton figure atop a stone pillar with a carved face water spout below.
April 2015 · CC BY-SA 3.0
Dolphin Fountain with a stone basin, carved faces, and a seated male figure holding a fish.
The Dolphin Fountain stands along a city street in front of a pale building facade.
April 2015 © · CC BY-SA 4.0
Weathered stone Dolphin Fountain in a courtyard, with a figure wrestling a large scaled creature in a circular basin.
The Dolphin Fountain is shown in a black-and-white courtyard setting surrounded by old buildings.
© · CC BY-SA 4.0
Black-and-white contact sheet showing multiple small frames of outdoor scenes, buildings, and architectural details, including the Dolphin Fountain.
Black-and-white contact sheet from a 1980 Bergamo photo shoot, with frames showing the Dolphin Fountain and other city scenes.
© · CC BY-SA 4.0

Identification

TitleDolphin Fountain
Italian nameFontana del Delfino
Original French nameFontaine du Dauphin
TypeFountain sculpture

Location and ownership

LocationVia Pignolo, Bergamo, Italy

Historical context

Construction date1526
Construction periodBuilt at the same time as the formation and urbanization of Via Pignolo, and as part of the construction of the Venetian walls

Creator

AttributionThe work appears to be by an unknown sculptor of high artistic quality
ArtistUnknown
CommissioningProbably commissioned by one of the families that owned the nearby palaces already in the early 16th century

Discovery and provenance

Aqueduct name originNamed after its former owner
Aqueduct location referenceCorresponding to the area of Colle Aperto
Aqueduct routeIt ran along Via Boccola after Piazza Mascheroni to the fara, reaching Via Pignolo
Water supplyFed by the Roman aqueduct Prato Baglioni

Physical characteristics

SteleA square stele with curved corners placed inside the basin
Basin shapeOval
Basin placementOn a step
SizeNot large

Materials

Stele materialWhite Zandobbio marble

Appearance

Mascarons subjectMarine deities
Mascarons hairHair shaped like leaves
Main sculptural groupA triton with two fish tails riding a dolphin with a long tail
MovementDynamic plastic movement
Water featureWater flows from the mouths of the mascarons and the dolphin
Additional sculpted elementA large pine cone carved on the stele
Stylistic qualityHighly refined sculptural workmanship
VisibilityThe triton's forms are clearly recognizable from any viewpoint
Side ornamentsTwo mascarons on opposite sides of the pillar

Iconography and meaning

Symbolism of the pine coneAn ancient symbol of the street, representing the former conifer forest that gave rise to the toponym