Fountain of the Four Rivers

Bernini's grandest public work — four colossal river gods (Nile, Danube, Ganges, Río de la Plata) supporting an Egyptian obelisk on a hollow travertine rock. Bernini won the commission through a famous coup: he built a silver model and arranged for it to be 'accidentally discovered' by the pope who had excluded him. The most theatrical public space Baroque Rome ever created.