The Rio de la Plata

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The Rio de la Plata, Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi (Fountain of the Four Rivers)
By Gian Lorenzo Bernini, 1651
Piazza Navona
Rome, April 2013

“The Rio de la Plata, representing America, is identified by the coins beneath it, which refer to the riches brought from the colonies. It is accompanied by a somewhat oddly-rendered armadillo, described by Domenico as ‘an animal of the Indies’ and probably only known to Gianlorenzo through drawings (fig. 18). The figure of the Rio de la Plata deviates from the classical appearance of the other figures with regard to its physiognomy, which identifies the figure as being from West Africa rather than from America.” (The Rio de la Plata, The 2013 Bernini Online Exhibit)

See also: The Ganges - The Nile