Fontana del Nettuno

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Fontana del Nettuno (Fountain of Neptune) by Giambologna, 1567
Piazza del Nettuno (Palazzo d'Accursio on the left)
Bologna, June 2015

“If you were Bolognese, you'd be used to it, pass it every day on the way to market, lean against the edge of it, never give it a second thought. But the fountain of Neptune in Bologna's main square does come as a surprise to visitors because of the four lounging ladies around the base and the alpha-male Neptune who dominates the eponymous square. Lactating Nereids were popular in Italy in the mid-16th century, a manifestation of the high Mannerist style. Neptune’s fountain was commissioned to celebrate the newly appointed Pope Pious IV, Giovanni Angelo di Medici; architect Tommaso Laureti completed his work by 1565. Two years later Jean de Boulogne added his muscled giant, earning himself ever afterwards the nickname ‘Gianbologna’.” (The Fountain of Neptune, ItalianNotebook)