Roman Art Plaza Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3500 words

Roman Art Plaza - Essay Example Fontana del Nettuno or the Fountain of Neptune is found at the north end of the piazza. This fountain was designed in 1574 by Giacomo della Porta and sponsored by Pope Gregory XIII. The fountain is composed of a basin made of white marble and on top are mythological nereids or sea nymphs and the god Neptune wrestling with an octopus. Overall, the three fountains in the Piazza Navona are antiquities that show the craftsmanship of the Romans. The piazza, with its unique and precious landscape, may be unparalleled for its beauty. Notably, however, the subjects of the sculptures are all male. This reflects the power of the male figure in the Renaissance time, and in turn, the elites because they were the ones who had access to education and the arts. Apparently, the cost of materials used to construct the fountains reveals the elitist view of both the Church and the government. The said fountains now serve as legacies of art but at the time they were constructed, the common people did no t have enough to eat, thus they resisted the construction of the Fontana Dei Quattro. In response, the government was after prestige and power, thus it held a stiff look at the qualms of the people. In many works, the Renaissance people lavishly proved their high taste in art, which later earned them prestige and praise. The Piazza Navona strictly conforms with High Renaissance requirements of drama, physical presence and balance. In particular, the facial expressions and hand gestures of the statues.