Fountain of Neptune (Madrid)

Fountain of Neptune
Spanish: Fuente de Neptuno
View from the south
Artist	Juan Pascual de Mena
Year	1781–1786
Medium	White marble
Movement	Neoclassicism
Subject	Neptune
Location	Plaza de Cánovas del Castillo [es], Madrid, Spain
Coordinates	40.415268°N 3.694153°W / 40.415268; -3.694153

View from the north

The Fountain of Neptune (Spanish: Fuente de Neptuno) is a neoclassical fountain located in Madrid, Spain. It lies on the centre of the Plaza de Cánovas del Castillo [es], a roundabout in the Paseo del Prado. The sculptural group in its centre represents Neptune, a Roman water deity.

History and description

Designed by Ventura Rodríguez,[1] the sculpture—made of white marble from Montesclaros—was commissioned to Juan Pascual de Mena.[2] Sculptural works began in 1781.[3] Following the master's death in April 1784,[4] the fountain was finished in October 1786 by his disciples.[5]

The fountain is formed by a circular pylon with the sculptural group in its centre. The crowned Roman god wields a trident with one hand while he grabs a sea snake with the other hand.[6]

It has a maximum water capacity of 305 m^3.[1]

The fountain is the site where the Atlético Madrid's fans celebrate the team's trophies.[7]

References

Citations

1. Fraguas 2014.
2. Pérez de Domingo 2006, pp. 319–320.
3. Pérez de Domingo 2006, p. 320.
4. Pérez de Domingo 2006, p. 321.
5. Pérez de Domingo 2006, p. 322.
6. Pérez de Domingo 2006, p. 323.
7. Ortiz García 2006, p. 196.

Bibliography

• Fraguas, Rafael (24 May 2014). "Las deidades del balompié". El País.
• Ortiz García, Carmen (2006). "La Diosa Blanca y el Real Madrid. Celebraciones deportivas y espacio urbano". Disparidades. Revista de Antropología. 61 (2). Madrid: Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas: 191–208. doi:10.3989/rdtp.2006.v61.i2.21. ISSN 0034-7981.
• Pérez de Domingo, Lorenzo (2006). "La obra del escultor Juan Pascual de Mena en Madrid" (PDF). Madrid. Revista de Arte, Geografía e Historia (8): 279–326. ISSN 1139-5362.